Bhubaneswar beauty parlour assault: Two arrested for sexually assaulting job-seeker
Synopsis
A trained cosmetologist looking for work in Bhubaneswar was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a beauty parlour by its owner and an employee who had lured her with a job offer. Both accused were arrested Tuesday and sent to judicial custody after a court rejected their bail pleas — with CCTV evidence and seized materials forming the core of the investigation.
Key Takeaways
Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police arrested Rabindra Mohanty, 50 , and Santosh Kumar Barik, 52 , on Tuesday for the alleged assault.
The victim, a 25-year-old trained cosmetologist, was allegedly lured to the parlour in Jagamara under the pretext of a job offer.
A case was registered under Section 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita after the victim filed a complaint at Khandagiri police station on Sunday night.
Police examined CCTV footage , collected forensic evidence, and seized objectionable materials; the parlour has reportedly been sealed.
Both accused were produced in court, had their bail pleas rejected, and were remanded to judicial custody .
Bhubaneswar Commissionerate Police arrested two men on Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman inside a unisex beauty parlour in Jagamara, under Khandagiri police limits in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The victim, a trained cosmetologist seeking employment, had visited the parlour after being told about a job vacancy.
Who Was Arrested
The two accused have been identified as Rabindra Mohanty, 50, the owner of the parlour and a resident of Kolathia under Bharatpur police limits, and Santosh Kumar Barik, 52, an employee of the parlour and a resident of Ragadipada village under Badamba police station in Cuttack district, according to officials. Both were produced before a court, which rejected their bail pleas and remanded them to judicial custody.
How the Alleged Assault Unfolded
According to police sources, the victim had completed professional training in beauty and cosmetology and was actively looking for work. An acquaintance informed her of a vacancy at the Jagamara parlour, and she reportedly visited the premises a couple of days before the complaint was filed. The parlour owner, Mohanty, allegedly promised her a job with a lucrative salary. Trusting those assurances, the woman entered the premises, where both Mohanty and Barik allegedly assaulted her inside.
Complaint and Police Action
The victim lodged a formal complaint at Khandagiri police station on Sunday night. Police registered a case under Section 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation. A police team, assisted by a scientific team, visited the parlour, examined CCTV footage, and seized several objectionable materials from the premises. The parlour has reportedly been sealed as part of the ongoing investigation.
Broader Context
This case follows a pattern of reported incidents in which job-seekers have allegedly been lured to establishments under the pretext of employment offers. The use of CCTV evidence and forensic collection in this case signals a methodical approach by the Commissionerate Police. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the nature of the seized materials.
The case is now under judicial proceedings, and investigators are expected to file a charge sheet based on the collected evidence.
Point of View
Yet regulatory oversight of unregistered beauty parlours remains minimal. The swift arrest and judicial remand reflect police responsiveness, but the larger question of how such premises operate without scrutiny deserves attention. If CCTV evidence is as conclusive as officials suggest, the charge sheet will be a test of how effectively the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is being applied in practice.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the beauty parlour in Bhubaneswar?
A 25-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a unisex beauty parlour in Jagamara, Bhubaneswar, by the parlour owner and an employee who had reportedly promised her a job. She filed a complaint at Khandagiri police station on Sunday night, leading to the arrest of both accused.
Who are the accused in the Bhubaneswar parlour assault case?
The accused are Rabindra Mohanty, 50, the owner of the parlour and a resident of Kolathia, and Santosh Kumar Barik, 52, an employee residing in Ragadipada village in Cuttack district. Both were arrested on Tuesday and sent to judicial custody.
Under which law was the case registered?
Police registered the case under Section 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita following the victim's complaint. Investigators also collected CCTV footage and forensic evidence from the premises.
What is the current status of the case?
Both accused have been remanded to judicial custody after the court rejected their bail pleas. The parlour has reportedly been sealed and the investigation is ongoing, with a charge sheet expected based on collected evidence.
How did the victim come to visit the parlour?
The victim, a trained cosmetologist seeking employment, was informed about a vacancy at the parlour by an acquaintance. The parlour owner allegedly promised her a lucrative salary, which led her to visit the premises where the alleged assault took place.
