If you had met me...: Odisha Prisons DG accused of harassing former woman jailer

A former woman jail official has accused Odisha Prisons DG Sushant Kumar Nath of threatening her career and the safety of her children after she refused to meet him privately. The complaint also alleges sexual harassment and pressure to withdraw a case against a former jail superintendent.

In Short

• Odisha Prisons Director General faces sexual harassment, intimidation allegations
• Former jail official alleges hotel invitations from DG's associate
• Woman alleges DG threatened her career over refusal to meet privately

Odisha Prisons Director General Sushant Kumar Nath has been accused of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, and misuse of official position by a former woman jail official of Choudwar Circle Jail in Cuttack.

In a complaint filed at Choudwar police station on October 31, the woman alleged that Nath and his associate Kuldeep Ratha harassed her, threatened to ruin her career and warned of physical harm to her and her children. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation.

The allegations come amid an earlier dispute involving the woman and the then senior superintendent of Choudwar Circle Jail, Sujit Kumar Raula, whom she had accused of forging her signature and manipulating official records following the escape of two undertrial prisoners.

WOMAN ALLEGED HARASSMENT, HOTEL INVITATIONS

According to the complaint, the harassment began after Nath visited Choudwar Circle Jail on June 16, 2025. The woman was on leave at the time and rejoined duty on July 18. She alleged that during a subsequent phone conversation, Nath asked her to facilitate a visit to the jail by Ratha, whom he introduced as a friend. Ratha later obtained her mobile number and allegedly began sending her messages containing suggestive and unwelcome emoticons.

The complaint further stated that on August 29, 2025, Ratha invited her to meet him alone for dinner at a restaurant or hotel named Blast in Cuttack, claiming that Nath wanted to meet her privately. Another invitation allegedly followed on September 25 or 26, when Ratha asked her to meet at Hotel Pramod, where Nath was also expected to be present. The woman said she declined both invitations.

She alleged that the invitations were unwelcome and that her refusal led to retaliation by senior officials.

EARLIER JAIL ESCAPE CASE AND DEPARTMENTAL ACTIONS

The complaint also details an earlier dispute involving Sujit Kumar Raula, the then senior superintendent of Choudwar Circle Jail. According to the woman, two undertrial prisoners escaped from the jail during the intervening night of October 2 and 3, 2025. She was subsequently transferred to Kantabanji Sub-Jail.

She alleged that Raula forged her signature and tampered with official records to mislead the investigation into the escape and falsely implicate her. She then lodged FIR against him at Choudwar police station.

The woman said she was unable to join duty immediately after the transfer because of serious health problems. After receiving medical treatment, she rejoined duty on December 2, 2025, but fell seriously ill again within days and was admitted to a government hospital before being referred to a higher medical centre.

She alleged that after she filed the FIR against Raula, Nath suspended her on February 19, 2026, accusing her of speaking to the media and questioning the findings of a medical board constituted by him. The complaint further stated that Nath denied her medical leave, stopped her salary and initiated five departmental proceedings against her in quick succession.

The woman also alleged that her subsistence allowance, which she was entitled to receive during suspension, was withheld for nearly six months. This caused severe financial hardship to her and her two minor daughters, affecting their emotional, mental and educational needs. According to the complaint, the allowance was released on August 4, 2026, following the intervention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

ALLEGED THREATS TO WITHDRAW FIR

The woman alleged that Sushant Kumar Nath continued to pressure her to withdraw the FIR against Sujit Kumar Raula. According to the complaint, Nath contacted her through other phones and asked her to meet him at his office, saying he wanted to rectify the actions taken against her.

She met him on September 7 and 8, 2026. During these meetings, Nath allegedly told her, "If you had come to meet me you wouldn't have faced all these." The woman claimed the remark referred to her refusal to meet him privately at a hotel.

She further alleged that Nath pressured her to withdraw the FIR against Raula and threatened to terminate her service or demote her if she refused. She also accused him of threatening physical harm to her and her children.

The complaint stated that Nath abused her, shouted at her and claimed he had the power to end her career. She alleged that when she refused to withdraw the case, he threatened further punitive action. The woman also claimed that Nath and his associates attempted to intimidate her into withdrawing the FIR by sending her a draft affidavit for her signature, which she said was intended to facilitate its withdrawal.

She alleged that the repeated departmental proceedings and threats were intended to silence her and discourage her from pursuing the earlier case.

FIR REGISTERED, NATH TRANSFERRED

The police registered the FIR on October 31 under Section 75(2) of the BNS (punishment for sexual harassment), Section 351(2) of the BNS (criminal intimidation), and Section 3(5) of the BNS (acts done by several persons with common intention).

In a separate development, the Odisha government transferred Nath from the post of Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services to Officer on Special Duty in the Home Department through a notification dated November 1, 2026.

The allegations against Nath and Ratha are yet to be established, and the investigation is underway.

- Ends