Prisons DG Sushant Kumar Nath accused of sexual harassment in Odisha

Serious allegations of sexual harassment and torment have been leveled against Odisha's Prisons Department DG Sushant Kumar Nath by a woman employee working under him. After this matter came to light, the state government removed him from his current post until the investigation is completed. Officials gave this information on Sunday. In this matter, along with senior IPS officer Nath, his friend Kuldeep Rath has also been made an accused. Nath has been reassigned by the government as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department. According to officials, this action has been taken as long as the investigation is underway.

Police have registered a case against Nath and his friend Rath under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, and with common intention. A case was filed against both of them at the Choudwar police station in Cuttack on 31 October. The responsibility of investigating this entire matter has been assigned to Inspector Vikas Sethi.

This complaint has been made by a 41-year-old woman jailer. In her complaint, she has alleged that Rath had called her multiple times from July 2025 onwards, asking her to meet IPS officer Nath over dinner. According to the woman, several messages were sent to her by Rath that were objectionable and against her will. The woman has also claimed that when she refused these invitations, she was framed in a false case of prisoners escaping from the jail under her jurisdiction.

According to the FIR, in July 2025, Nath had asked the woman jailer to allow Rath to visit the Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack. At that time, the woman was posted there as a jailer. Subsequently, her phone number was taken by Rath and he allegedly began sending objectionable messages. The complaint also mentions insistence on meeting at a hotel and restaurant.

According to the complaint, on 29 August 2025, Rath called the woman and invited her for dinner with Nath at a restaurant in Cuttack. Thereafter, in September 2025, she was again called for dinner and a party at a hotel. The woman alleged that Rath used to say that the IPS officer wanted to meet her alone. The woman refused the invitations on both occasions. According to the woman, the DG Prisons has been targeting her ever since she refused to accept the unexpected requests for a private meeting.

An incident of transfer following the escape of prisoners has also come to light. According to the complainant, during Durga Puja in October 2025, two judicial prisoners escaped from the Choudwar Circle Jail. Following this incident, the woman was transferred to the Kantabanjhi sub-jail. However, due to health-related issues, she could not immediately assume charge at the new place. The woman stated that she reported for duty in December 2025, but due to falling ill again, she had to be admitted to a government hospital.

静岡 The woman further alleged that the senior superintendent of Choudwar Jail tampered with her signatures and documents to frame her in the prisoner escape case. Later, she registered a complaint against the jail superintendent. According to the FIR, this matter is also under investigation.

In this matter, the woman has also alleged that in February this year, she was suspended from service. Subsequently, her maintenance allowance was also withheld for about six months, due to which she and her two minor daughters had to face financial hardships. She stated that following the intervention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, her allowance was resumed on 4 August 2026. The woman has clarified in her police complaint that an attempt was made by Nath to force her to meet him alone at a hotel, and retaliatory action was taken following her refusal.

59-year-old Sushant Kumar Nath is a 1993 batch IPS officer. According to officials, he is among the contenders for the post of Director General of Police (DGP) in the state. The selection process for this post is currently underway in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Political and parliamentary intervention has also been witnessed in this serious matter. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar, has summoned the Home Secretary and other concerned officials to appear on 3 November in this matter.