Odisha OAS officer arrested in Bhubaneswar over alleged sexual abuse of junior colleague
Synopsis
A senior Odisha Administrative Service officer, posted as Additional Secretary in the state Transport Department, was arrested in Bhubaneswar after his junior contractual colleague called police during an alleged late-night assault. Investigators say the abuse reportedly spanned seven to eight months, involved coercion and objectionable recordings, and is now the subject of an FIR under multiple sections of the BNS, 2023 — including rape by a public servant of a subordinate.
Key Takeaways
Arun Kumar Biswal , a 55-year-old OAS officer and reportedly Additional Secretary in Odisha's Transport Department, was arrested on 18 September 2026 .
The victim, a contractual employee in the same department, called police during an alleged late-night assault at her rented home in Bhubaneswar .
Police registered case No.
657/2026 under Sections 109(1), 115(2), 296, 351(2), 351(3), 64(2)(b) of the BNS, 2023 .
The alleged abuse reportedly continued for seven to eight months , involving threats and possession of objectionable recordings of the victim.
CCTV footage and digital evidence have been collected; the victim's statement has been recorded.
Bhubaneswar Police on Friday, 18 September 2026, arrested a 55-year-old senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer on charges of sexually abusing his junior female colleague in the state's Commerce and Transport Department. The accused, identified as Arun Kumar Biswal, was apprehended after the victim contacted police from her rented home in Bhubaneswar late Thursday night.
How the Arrest Unfolded
According to Debendra Kumar Biswal, Inspector In-charge of Kharvelnagar police station, the accused entered the woman's residence late on Thursday night and physically assaulted her, also allegedly attempting sexual abuse. The victim called the police control room while the accused was still present. PCR personnel reached the rental house promptly and brought Arun Kumar Biswal to the police station.
The victim subsequently lodged a written complaint, on the basis of which police registered case No. 657/2026 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — including provisions related to attempt to murder, rape of a subordinate woman by a public servant, criminal intimidation, and assault.
Nature of the Allegations
Investigators allege that the abuse was not limited to Thursday night. According to police, Arun Kumar Biswal — reportedly posted as Additional Secretary in the Transport Department — had allegedly proposed to the victim and coerced her into physical relations on multiple occasions over the past seven to eight months by threatening her. He is also accused of possessing objectionable images and videos of the victim on his mobile phone, which were allegedly used to keep her in a state of fear.
The victim, described as an unmarried woman employed on a contractual basis in the same department, is reportedly experiencing significant mental trauma. Biswal is a native of Kujanga in Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha.
Evidence Collected
Police have collected CCTV footage from the area as well as other digital evidence. The victim's formal statement has been recorded. Investigators say the digital trail is expected to be central to the case as it proceeds.
Legal Sections Invoked
The FIR invokes Sections 109(1), 115(2), 296, 351(2), 351(3), and 64(2)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, covering charges including attempt to murder, rape by a public servant of a subordinate, criminal force, and assault. The case underscores concerns about workplace power dynamics and the vulnerability of contractual employees within government departments.
This is the second high-profile case involving alleged abuse of power by a senior OAS officer to surface in Odisha in recent months, prompting renewed calls for stronger internal accountability mechanisms in state departments. Further developments are expected as the investigation continues and the matter may be placed before a court.
Point of View
Especially women, have little institutional recourse against senior permanent officers who control their continued engagement. The seven-to-eight-month timeline alleged here — and the claimed use of recorded material as coercion — suggests a pattern of sustained abuse rather than an isolated incident, which makes the delay in the victim reaching authorities a critical question for investigators. Odisha, like most states, lacks a robust internal complaints committee audit mechanism for government departments, particularly for contractual staff who fall outside standard HR protections. The invocation of BNS Section 64(2)(b), covering rape by a public servant of a subordinate, signals that prosecutors intend to treat the power asymmetry itself as an aggravating factor — a test for how the new code performs in practice.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Arun Kumar Biswal and what is he accused of?
Arun Kumar Biswal is a 55-year-old Odisha Administrative Service officer, reportedly posted as Additional Secretary in the state Transport Department. He is accused of sexually abusing a junior contractual colleague in the same department over a period of seven to eight months, using threats and allegedly retaining objectionable recordings of the victim to coerce her.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
Police have registered case No. 657/2026 under Sections 109(1), 115(2), 296, 351(2), 351(3), and 64(2)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The charges include attempt to murder, rape of a subordinate by a public servant, criminal force, and assault.
How did the arrest take place?
The victim called the police control room late Thursday night while the accused was allegedly assaulting her at her rented home in Bhubaneswar. PCR personnel arrived at the scene and took the accused to Kharvelnagar police station, after which the victim filed a written complaint.
What evidence has police gathered so far?
Police have collected CCTV footage from the location and other digital evidence, including reportedly objectionable images and videos found on the accused's mobile phone. The victim's formal statement has also been recorded.
Why is this case significant for contractual government employees?
The case highlights the vulnerability of contractual staff — who lack permanent employment protections — to abuse by senior officers who hold authority over their engagement. The invocation of BNS provisions on rape by a public servant of a subordinate is expected to test how the new criminal code addresses power-based coercion in workplace settings.
