Overview

• Lieutenant Colonel Varun Pratap Singh has been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 69 and 351(2) for allegedly raping a Madhya Pradesh police constable in 2012 under false promises of marriage.
• The survivor alleges Singh misled her about his marital status, engaged in simultaneous relationships, and delayed marriage by claiming he was divorcing his wife.
• The accused reportedly threatened the survivor with harm if she pursued legal action, prompting her to file a complaint in February 2025 after years of inaction from Army officers.
• Bhopal police have informed Singh's military unit in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, and plan to dispatch a team to arrest him after ongoing festivals if he does not cooperate with the investigation.
• The case highlights systemic issues of delayed justice and institutional inaction, as well as concerns over accountability in addressing sexual misconduct allegations within the military.