Army officer arrested in rape case not connected with DRDO: Def ministry

The Defence ministry today said that a Colonel-rank officer arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman here was in no way connected with the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO).

The concerned army officer Col.Rishi Sharma is not working at the DRDO centre in Shamirpet, near Hyderabad, and is also in no way connected with the DRDO, the ministry said in a statement issued in Delhi.

Sharma was arrested by the Hyderabad police on May 15. The police while giving details of the arrest the next day said the officer was on deputation with the DRDO.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shamshabad Division) P V Padmaja maintained today that Col.Rishi Sharma is working on deputation as Administrative Officer at DRDO, Shamirpet.

Padmaja also said that following the arrest of the officer he was produced before a court here which rejected the army's request for trial in army court and send him in judicial remand.