Odisha Prisons DG transferred after ex-woman jailor files sexual harassment case
Synopsis
A former woman jailor at Choudwar Circle Jail has accused Odisha's Prisons DGP Susanta Kumar Nath of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, and pressuring her to drop a separate records-tampering case linked to a jailbreak. The Odisha government transferred Nath to the Home Department as OSD within hours — and police have already registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Key Takeaways
A former woman jailor of Choudwar Circle Jail , Cuttack, has filed a sexual harassment complaint against DGP (Prisons) Susanta Kumar Nath .
Nath was transferred to the Home Department as OSD by the Odisha government on 1 November 2026 .
The complaint alleges harassment through an intermediary, Kuldeep Ratha , and repeated pressure to meet Nath alone at hotels on 29 August and 25–26 September 2025 .
The former jailor also alleges Nath pressured her to withdraw a complaint against Sujit Kumar Raula over forged records linked to a 2–3 October 2025 jailbreak.
Choudwar Police registered Case No.
713/26 on 31 October 2026 under BNS Sections 75(2) , 351(2) , and 3(5) .
A former woman jailor of Choudwar Circle Jail in Odisha's Cuttack has filed a formal sexual harassment complaint against senior IPS officer Susanta Kumar Nath, who serves as the Director General of Police (DGP) Prisons. The Odisha government responded swiftly, transferring Nath to the Home Department and posting him as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on Sunday, 1 November 2026.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to the written complaint, Nath allegedly visited Choudwar Circle Jail on 16 June 2025. The former jailor, who was on leave that day, reportedly spoke to him over the phone on 18 July 2025 after returning to duty. During that conversation, she alleged, Nath asked her to facilitate the visit of one Kuldeep Ratha, described as his personal friend.
During Ratha's subsequent visit to the jail, he reportedly requested a photograph with the former jailor. After the visit, he allegedly obtained her mobile number and began sending her messages containing objectionable emojis. The former jailor alleges that Nath, acting through Ratha as an intermediary, twice pressured her to meet him alone at hotels on 29 August 2025 and 25–26 September 2025, which she refused.
Threats and Career Retaliation Alleged
The former jailor has further alleged that her refusal to comply with these overtures led to direct threats against her life, career, and reputation. She claims that ever since she declined the invitations conveyed through Ratha, she has been systematically targeted by the DGP (Prisons).
She has also alleged that Nath pressured her to withdraw a separate complaint she had filed against Sujit Kumar Raula, the former Senior Superintendent of Choudwar Circle Jail, accusing him of forging her signature and tampering with official records. According to her complaint, those records were allegedly manipulated to misdirect the probe into the escape of two criminals from Choudwar Circle Jail on the intervening night of 2–3 October 2025, and to falsely implicate her in the lapse.
FIR Registered, Investigation Under Way
Based on the complaint, Choudwar Police registered Case No. 713/26 on 31 October 2026 under Section 75(2) (sexual harassment), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and Section 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). An investigation has been initiated.
Government's Response
The Odisha government's decision to transfer Nath to the Home Department as OSD within hours of the complaint becoming public signals an intent to insulate the investigation from any potential institutional interference. Notably, Nath has not publicly responded to the allegations, and his version of events has not been reported as of the time of this report.
The case adds to a growing pattern of workplace harassment complaints within state police and prison administrations across India, and will be closely watched as a test of institutional accountability in Odisha's law enforcement hierarchy.
Point of View
Not an isolated incident. The jailbreak angle deserves equal scrutiny: if records were genuinely tampered with to shift blame for a high-profile escape, that is a serious institutional failure that must be investigated independently of the harassment complaint.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Susanta Kumar Nath and what is the allegation against him?
Susanta Kumar Nath is a senior IPS officer who served as Director General of Police (DGP) Prisons in Odisha. A former woman jailor of Choudwar Circle Jail has alleged that he sexually harassed her, pressured her through an intermediary to meet him privately, and threatened her career and life when she refused.
What action has the Odisha government taken?
The Odisha government transferred Nath to the Home Department and posted him as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on 1 November 2026. The move followed the filing of a formal complaint and an FIR by Choudwar Police.
Under which sections has the FIR been registered?
Choudwar Police registered Case No. 713/26 on 31 October 2026 under Section 75(2) (sexual harassment), Section 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and Section 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). An investigation is under way.
What is the connection to the Choudwar jailbreak?
The former jailor alleges that official records at Choudwar Circle Jail were forged and tampered with to misdirect the investigation into the escape of two criminals on the night of 2–3 October 2025. She claims Nath pressured her to drop her separate complaint against the jail's former Senior Superintendent, Sujit Kumar Raula, over this alleged tampering.
Who is Kuldeep Ratha and what role does he play in the complaint?
Kuldeep Ratha is described as a personal friend of Nath. According to the complaint, he was facilitated into the jail by the former jailor at Nath's request, after which he allegedly obtained her mobile number and sent objectionable messages. He is also alleged to have acted as an intermediary, relaying Nath's requests for private meetings on two separate occasions.
