Former Odisha Jail Director General Sushant Kumar Nath and his associate, Kuldeep Rath, have formally approached the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail to evade potential arrest.
This legal move comes in the wake of a criminal case registered against them at the Choudwar police station.
The controversy erupted following a complaint filed on October 31 by former female jailor Santoshini Dash. According to the complaint, Rath—acting on behalf of the former Jail DG—allegedly invited her to a private dinner or hotel meeting. Upon her refusal, she faced intense professional retaliation, including departmental action, suspension, salary suspension, and explicit threats.
Consequently, the Choudwar police registered a case under Sections 75(2), 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The state government swiftly reacted to the allegations by removing Nath from his position as Jail DG on November 1 and reassigning him as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department, a move widely perceived as punitive. Nath, a 1933 [Note: 1993] batch IPS officer, was previously considered a strong contender for the state’s upcoming DGP post.
As police investigations remain ongoing, the allegations are yet to be legally proven, and statements from both parties are pending. The unfolding situation has sparked widespread discussion across the state’s high-level police administration and prison system, with all eyes fixed on the progress of the investigation and the High Court’s forthcoming decision.
