Odisha coaching centre owner arrested for POCSO abuse of minor in Bhubaneswar
Synopsis
A Bhubaneswar coaching centre owner allegedly induced a minor student into a false marriage before sexually abusing her — and has now been remanded to judicial custody under POCSO. The arrest is the latest in a string of crimes against women rattling Odisha, with opposition parties escalating pressure on the state government over a worsening law-and-order record.
Key Takeaways
Niranjan Mishra , 38 , owner of a coaching centre in Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar , was arrested on 23 June 2026 .
He allegedly induced a minor undergraduate student into a false marriage by applying sindoor at a temple before sexually abusing her.
Case 178/26 was registered under the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by the Bhubaneswar Mahila Police Station .
Mishra was produced in court and remanded to judicial custody .
The arrest follows a separate case this month in which two men were held for allegedly raping a woman at a beauty parlour in Bhubaneswar.
Opposition parties have blamed the Odisha government for a reported rise in crimes against women across the state.
Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police arrested a 38-year-old coaching centre owner on charges of sexually abusing a minor student in Bhubaneswar, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 23 June. The accused has been sent to judicial custody following a court appearance.
Who Was Arrested
The accused has been identified as Niranjan Mishra, a resident of the Mancheswar police station area of Bhubaneswar. Mishra reportedly ran a coaching centre in the Saheed Nagar locality of the city. The victim is an undergraduate student at a local college who allegedly came into contact with Mishra a couple of months ago.
What the Complaint Alleged
According to the complaint filed by the victim, Mishra allegedly cultivated a relationship with the minor and induced her to believe they were married by applying sindoor on her forehead at a temple. The two subsequently lived together at his residence. Following a dispute between them, the victim approached the police and formally lodged a complaint.
Case Registered, Accused Forwarded to Court
The Bhubaneswar Mahila Police Station launched an investigation and registered case number 178/26 under multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Mishra was arrested on Tuesday and produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
Broader Pattern of Violence Against Women in Odisha
This arrest comes amid growing public concern over a reported rise in crimes against women in Odisha. Earlier this month, two men — a 51-year-old beauty parlour owner and his 52-year-old staff member — were arrested for allegedly raping a woman in Bhubaneswar on the pretext of offering her employment. That complaint was filed at the Khandagiri police station.
Opposition parties have held the state government accountable for what they describe as a deteriorating law-and-order situation, and have staged protests demanding stronger action. Recurring incidents of mob violence in various parts of the state have added to the pressure on the administration. How the government responds to mounting public outrage over women's safety will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
Point of View
But for the method — a fabricated religious ritual used to trap a minor into cohabitation. That a trusted figure in an educational role stands accused makes this a safeguarding failure as much as a law-enforcement one. Odisha's back-to-back arrests for crimes against women point to a systemic problem that political blame-trading alone will not fix. The state needs faster POCSO trial timelines and mandatory police verification frameworks for those running educational or vocational centres — neither of which is currently in place.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Niranjan Mishra and why was he arrested?
Niranjan Mishra is a 38-year-old coaching centre owner from the Mancheswar area of Bhubaneswar. He was arrested on 23 June 2026 for allegedly sexually abusing a minor undergraduate student, reportedly after inducing her into a false marriage through a temple ritual.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
A case has been registered under multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case number is 178/26, filed by the Bhubaneswar Mahila Police Station.
What is the current legal status of Niranjan Mishra?
Mishra was arrested on Tuesday, produced before a court, and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. The investigation is ongoing.
How did the victim come into contact with the accused?
According to the complaint, the victim — an undergraduate student at a local college — came into contact with Mishra through his coaching centre in Saheed Nagar approximately two months before the complaint was filed.
Is this an isolated case or part of a wider trend in Odisha?
It is part of a broader pattern. Earlier in June 2026, two men were arrested for allegedly raping a woman at a Bhubaneswar beauty parlour. Opposition parties have flagged a reported rise in crimes against women in Odisha and are holding the state government accountable for the deteriorating law-and-order situation.
