Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered the suspension of two senior government officers following their arrest and subsequent detention in jail custody exceeding 48 hours.
The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) officially released the notification approving the suspension proposal.
According to government service rules, any official who remains in police or judicial custody for more than 48 hours is subject to immediate suspension. The two disciplined officers are Arun Kumar Biswal, Additional Secretary in the Commerce and Transport Department, and Sujit Kumar Roul, Senior Superintendent of Kataka Circle Jail (Choudwar). Both were taken into custody under separate criminal charges.
Details of the Cases
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Arun Kumar Biswal (55): An Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer residing in Kujang, Jagatsinghpur, Biswal was arrested on the night of September 18 after allegedly trespassing into the residence of a contractual female stenographer working in his department. According to the police, Biswal barged into her rented home in Kharavel Nagar, created a commotion, assaulted her, and attempted sexual harassment.
Following an emergency call to the 112 helpline, a PCR team detained Biswal. Based on the victim’s complaint, Case No. 657/2026 was registered at Kharavel Nagar Police Station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—including attempted murder, sexual assault, and intimidation. Police noted that Biswal had allegedly been coercing the employee for several months and had kept compromising digital evidence on his phone. His bail application was rejected, placing him in judicial custody.
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Sujit Kumar Roul: The Senior Superintendent of Choudwar Circle Jail was arrested on September 20 from his residence in Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar. Roul faces charges linked to a major jailbreak in October 2025, when two murder accused from Bihar escaped over the high walls during Durga Puja.
Former Jailer Santoshini Das filed a complaint with Choudwar Police in January 2026, alleging that Roul—who was absent during the incident—later forged signatures in the Gate In-Out register and Minutes Book to falsify his presence and shift the blame. After the Odisha High Court revoked his interim protection on August 29, 2026, police executed his arrest. Roul, currently under treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital due to health complications, faces additional charges following a new complaint filed on September 22 alleging he pressured the complainant to withdraw the case.
Departmental Action and Next Steps
Both matters remain under active investigation. Police are analysing CCTV footage, digital evidence, and witness statements. Departmental inquiries will proceed alongside the judicial trials; if convicted, both officers face potential dismissal from service and further penalties under the law.
