Former woman jailor files sexual harassment complaint against Odisha Prisons DG

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhubaneswar, Nov 1 (IANS) A former woman jailor of Choudwar Circle Jail in Odisha’s Kataka has levelled serious allegations of sexual harassment against senior IPS officer Susanta Kumar Nath, who holds the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) Prisons.

In the wake of the allegations, the Odisha government on Sunday transferred Nath, the DGP (Prisons), to the Home Department and posted him as Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

According to the written complaint lodged by the ex-woman jailor, during her tenure at Choudwar, the then DGP of Prisons, Nath reportedly visited Choudwar Circle Jail on June 16, 2025.

As she was on leave during the visit, she allegedly spoke to the DGP (Prisons) over phone on July 18, 2025, after joining the service.

The victim woman jailor alleged that during the telephonic conversation, Nath asked her to facilitate the visit of one Kuldeep Ratha, said to be his friend.

During the visit, Rath reportedly requested a photograph with the former jailor as a memento and took a picture with her.

After the visit, he allegedly obtained her mobile number and sent her the photograph. Soon afterwards, he allegedly began sending her messages containing emojis that she found objectionable.

The victim alleged that Nath, through his friend Ratha, had twice pressured her to meet him alone at two different hotels with ulterior motives on two different occasions on August 29, September 25-26 in 2025, but she refused to comply.

The former jailor also alleged that her refusal to entertain Nath’s sexual overtures led to threats against her life, career and reputation.

She alleged that ever since she declined the unwelcome personal invitations and refused to comply with the demands or expectations conveyed through Ratha, she is being targeted by the DGP (Prisons).

The former woman jailor also alleged that the DGP (Prisons) had pressured her to withdraw a case she has lodged against the former Kataka Senior Superintendent of Choudwar Circle Jail, Sujit Kumar Raula, accusing him of forging her signature and manipulating or tampering with official records and documents.

She alleged that the records were tampered with to mislead the investigation into the escape of two dreaded criminals from Choudwar Circle Jail on the intervening night of October 2 and 3, 2025, shift accountability and falsely implicate her.

Based on the complaint, the Choudwar police have registered a case (713/26) under Sections 75(2) (sexual harassment), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on October 31, 2026, and initiated an investigation.

–IANS

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