Odisha IPS reshuffle: DGP Prisons Susanta Kumar Nath moved as OSD after harassment case
Synopsis
Odisha's DGP Prisons Susanta Kumar Nath was transferred as OSD in the Home Department within 24 hours of a former woman jailor lodging a sexual harassment and criminal intimidation complaint against him at Choudwar police station — making this one of the more consequential IPS reshuffles in the state in recent years, with nine officers moved across the hierarchy.
Key Takeaways
Susanta Kumar Nath , 1995-batch IPS and DGP Prisons , transferred as OSD, Home Department following a sexual harassment and criminal intimidation complaint by a former woman jailor of Choudwar Circle Jail .
A case was registered against Nath at Choudwar police station on 31 October based on the written complaint.
Santosh Bala (1995-batch IPS) continues in additional charge of Additional DG Prisons and Director, Correctional Services .
Sarah Sharma (2010-batch IPS) repatriated from central deputation and posted as DIG Vigilance .
A total of nine IPS and OPS officers were reshuffled across prisons, field postings, and headquarters roles.
The Odisha government on 1 November 2026 announced a significant reshuffle of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, with the most consequential move being the transfer of Director General of Police (DGP) Prisons, Susanta Kumar Nath, following allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation levelled against him by a former woman jailor.
Nath Shifted Following Harassment Allegations
Susanta Kumar Nath, a 1995-batch IPS officer, has been transferred from the post of Director General of Police (Prisons) and posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department. The transfer comes in the wake of a written complaint filed by a former woman jailor of Choudwar Circle Jail at Choudwar police station on 31 October, alleging sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against him. A case has since been registered against Nath based on the complaint, according to reports.
The swift administrative response — orders issued within 24 hours of the complaint — signals the state government's intent to act decisively on the allegations, though the judicial process remains at an early stage.
Key Changes in Prison and Correctional Services
Santosh Bala, a 1995-batch IPS officer and Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL), has been allowed to continue in additional charge of Additional Director General Prisons and Director of Odisha's Correctional Services.
Amitabh Thakur, a 1998-batch IPS officer serving as Odisha Transport Commissioner in Cuttack, who was previously holding additional charge of Additional Director General of Police (Prisons), has been relieved of that additional responsibility and will now focus solely on his role as Transport Commissioner.
Other Senior-Level Appointments
Rajesh Kumar, a 1998-batch IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (S.A.P.), has been allowed to retain his additional charge as Special Secretary, Home Department. The Odisha government has retained this dual-responsibility arrangement, indicating continuity in Home Department oversight.
Sarah Sharma, a 2010-batch IPS officer, has been repatriated from central deputation and posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police (Vigilance) — a posting that carries oversight significance given the backdrop of the broader reshuffle.
District and Field-Level Transfers
Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, a 2019-batch IPS officer serving as Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police (SP), has been transferred and posted as Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) at the State Police Headquarters, Cuttack.
Amritpal Singh, a 2021-batch IPS officer, has been moved from Nuapada SP and posted as SP, State Police Headquarters. Sonali Singh Parmar, a 2022-batch IPS officer who was serving as Khordha Additional SP, will take over as Jharsuguda SP.
Tapan Narayana Rath, an Odisha Police Service (OPS) officer of the Senior Time Scale, has been transferred from AIG, State Police Headquarters, Cuttack and posted as Nuapada SP.
Context and What to Watch
The reshuffle touches multiple tiers of Odisha's police hierarchy — from senior IPS cadre to field-level superintendents — suggesting it is both a response to the immediate harassment complaint and a broader administrative realignment. Notably, the transfer of a DGP-rank officer in direct connection with a criminal complaint is relatively uncommon in state police administration, and the case is likely to attract close scrutiny from the Odisha government and civil society groups working on workplace safety in state institutions.
The case against Susanta Kumar Nath at Choudwar police station is in its early stages; further developments in the investigation and any judicial proceedings are expected to determine the course of action against the officer.
Point of View
And the distinction matters. OSD postings often function as administrative parking bays, leaving the officer on full pay and service record untouched pending inquiry outcome. The real accountability test will be the pace and independence of the investigation at Choudwar police station, not the optics of the reshuffle order. The posting of a repatriated central deputation officer as DIG Vigilance in the same reshuffle adds an interesting layer — whether that is coincidence or deliberate institutional signalling is worth watching.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Odisha DGP Prisons Susanta Kumar Nath transferred?
Susanta Kumar Nath was transferred from DGP Prisons and posted as OSD in the Home Department after a former woman jailor of Choudwar Circle Jail filed a written complaint of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against him at Choudwar police station on 31 October. A case has been registered based on that complaint.
Who will handle the Odisha Prisons and Correctional Services charge after the reshuffle?
Santosh Bala, a 1995-batch IPS officer and Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, has been allowed to continue in additional charge of Additional Director General Prisons and Director of Odisha's Correctional Services.
What is the current status of the case against Susanta Kumar Nath?
A case has been registered at Choudwar police station based on the written complaint filed on 31 October by the former woman jailor. The investigation is at an early stage; further judicial proceedings are expected to determine the next course of action.
How many officers were affected by the Odisha IPS reshuffle on 1 November?
The reshuffle involved nine officers spanning IPS and Odisha Police Service (OPS) cadres, covering roles from DGP level down to district Superintendent of Police and field headquarters postings.
Who is Sarah Sharma and what is her new role after the Odisha IPS reshuffle?
Sarah Sharma is a 2010-batch IPS officer who was on central deputation. She has been repatriated and posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police (Vigilance) as part of the 1 November reshuffle by the Odisha government.
