Choudwar Circle Jail Senior Superintendent Sujit Kumar Roul has been arrested in connection with alleged manipulation of jail records following the escape of two inmates last year.
A 10‑member police team picked up Roul from his residence in Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar, and took him to Choudwar police station. The case stems from the escape of two Bihar criminals, Raja Sahani and Madhukant Kumar, who fled the jail on October 3, 2025, during Dussehra festivities. Both were later rearrested.
Former jailer Santosini Das had alleged in January 2026 that Roul facilitated the escape. Investigators found discrepancies in the minute book and entry‑exit registers, which showed Roul on continuous duty, while CCTV footage revealed otherwise. Police also discovered a forged signature of Das in the records.
Despite repeated summons, Roul failed nine times to submit the minute book, later claiming it had gone missing. The matter reached the Orissa High Court, which initially granted interim protection but later rejected his anticipatory bail plea. After the court withdrew protection, Roul went missing on August 29 before being arrested.
The arrest has intensified scrutiny of prison management and accountability in Odisha, raising questions about systemic lapses in correctional facilities.
