Controversy continues to swirl around former Odisha Director General (DG) of Prisons, Susanta Kumar Nath.
Facing a growing list of serious allegations, the senior official has found himself at the center of yet another legal battle after a former jail official lodged a formal police complaint against him.
Pradipta Kumar Mahalik, the former jailer of Baleshwar District Jail, lodged an FIR at the Capital Police Station in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. In his complaint, Mahalik alleged that the former Prison DG put immense pressure on him to frame an under-trial prisoner in a false narcotics case involving brown sugar.
Allegations of Coercion and Unlawful Pressure
According to the complaint, the trouble began on October 8, when Nath allegedly called Mahalik via WhatsApp and summoned him to Bhubaneswar under the pretext of an urgent meeting. Despite transit difficulties due to an ongoing Odisha bandh, Mahalik travelled to the capital, noting that Bhubaneswar Jail Superintendent Sarbeswar Sahu was also in contact with him during this period.
Mahalik alleged that upon arrival, he was instructed to target a specific trial prisoner in Balasore District Jail by surreptitiously placing brown sugar into the inmate’s pocket. The plan was to subsequently conduct a raid and implicate the inmate in a contraband case. Mahalik claimed he was promised promotions, official accolades, and other service benefits if he complied with the directive.
Refusal to Comply and Subsequent Suspension
Stating that framing an innocent or under-trial prisoner was illegal and unethical, Mahalik refused to execute the scheme. He alleged that following his refusal, pressure mounted on him, ultimately culminating in his official suspension on October 13.
Seeking a fair and impartial probe, Mahalik had previously submitted a written representation to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department on November 2. In that submission, he detailed the events surrounding his summons to Bhubaneswar, the alleged bribery and coercion, and urged the department to revoke his suspension and restore his position. By filing an FIR with the police, Mahalik has now escalated the matter through formal legal channels.
Mounting Legal Troubles
This is not the first major allegation against the former Prison DG. Prior to this incident, Santosini Das, the former woman jailer of Choudwar Jail, had filed a complaint against Nath accusing him of sexual harassment, intimidation, and mental torture.
Following the registration of a case at Choudwar Police Station over those charges, the State Government removed Nath from the post of DG of Prisons and reassigned him as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department. While Nath has since moved the High Court seeking legal protection and quashing of the earlier charges, this new FIR by another former prison official adds significant fresh momentum to the ongoing controversies.
