The Odisha Home Department suspended Santosh Kumar Jena, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Aska, over allegations of failing to pay for gold ornaments purchased from a local jewellery shop.
The suspension order was issued on May 14, 2026, under Rule 12(1) of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1962.
According to sources, the jeweller lodged complaints with the Director General of Police and the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell, alleging that Jena took ornaments without payment. The shopkeeper also posted a video on Facebook, which was later deleted before he closed his account.
Following the complaint, the Ganjam Superintendent of Police submitted a detailed report to the Home Department. Based on the findings, disciplinary action was initiated against Jena.
During the suspension period, Jena’s headquarters have been fixed at the office of the Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, Berhampur. He will remain under the administrative control of the IG and cannot leave headquarters without prior permission. He has been allowed to draw subsistence allowance as per Rule 90 of the Odisha Service Code.
