A woman trainee Indian Police Service (IPS) officer at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad has alleged that her batchmate sexually harassed, physically assaulted, and blackmailed her over a period of nearly three weeks. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against trainee IPS officer Uday Krishna Reddy at Attapur Police Station of Hyderabad City Police, and an investigation is underway.

What the Complaint Alleges

The 30-year-old complainant lodged her complaint on the night of 18 July, alleging that Reddy harassed her between 23 June and 10 July while both were undergoing training at the academy. According to the complaint, the harassment began on 23 June when the accused allegedly sent her sexually abusive messages via WhatsApp.

The complainant further alleged that Reddy made derogatory remarks about her in front of fellow trainees and falsely accused her of having a sexual relationship with another trainee. He also allegedly intimidated and blackmailed her into revealing her personal messages, and at one point took her mobile phone to his room and forced her to disclose its password.

Alleged Physical Assault and Blackmail

The accused allegedly recorded a private video of the complainant without her knowledge and later sent it to her husband, reportedly as an act of blackmail. On 8 July, he allegedly groped her and attempted to touch her private parts, according to the complaint.

On 9 July, the complainant alleged that Reddy wrongfully restrained her, took her to his room, grabbed her by the hair, attempted to strangulate her, and held a knife against her neck to prevent her from leaving. She further alleged that he physically assaulted her again on 10 July.

Political Reaction

Telangana Rakshana Sena, headed by K. Kavitha, condemned the incident, calling it shameful and reflective of institutional failure. In a social media post, the party stated that the alleged misconduct was occurring within a premier academy entrusted with training future law enforcement officers — a fact it described as deeply troubling.

'Our party strongly condemns this heinous behaviour. The law must take its strictest course without any institutional shielding. True justice must be served immediately to set a stern precedent,' the party said in its statement.

Institutional Concerns

The case has raised serious questions about internal safety mechanisms at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, one of India's most prestigious law enforcement training institutions. Critics argue that if trainee officers are not safe within their own academy, it fundamentally undermines public trust in the institutions they are being trained to lead. This comes amid broader national conversations about the adequacy of internal complaint mechanisms in uniformed services. Notably, the complainant is herself a serving trainee officer, which may complicate internal reporting dynamics at the institution.

Investigation Status

The criminal case has been formally registered at Attapur Police Station under Hyderabad City Police. Authorities have launched an investigation into the allegations. No official statement from the academy administration had been issued as of the time of reporting. The outcome of the investigation is expected to have implications for internal safety protocols at police training institutions across the country.