Bhubaneswar, 01 November (H.S.) : Senior Odisha IPS officer Susanta Kumar Nath has been accused of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and misuse of official position by a former jailer of Choudwar Circle Jail.

The complainant, former jailer Santoshini Dash, has alleged that Nath threatened to ruin her career and cause physical harm to her and her children. She also accused Kuldeep Ratha, described as a friend of the IPS officer, of sending her suggestive and unwelcome messages.

Nath, a 1993-batch IPS officer, has meanwhile been posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department, according to an official notification issued on Sunday. He was not immediately available for comment on the allegations.

In a written complaint lodged at Choudwar Police Station on October 31, 2026, Dash named both Nath and Ratha and detailed the alleged incidents.

According to the complaint, the sequence of events began after Nath visited Choudwar Circle Jail on June 16, 2025. After rejoining duty on July 18, Dash spoke to the Director General of Prisons over the phone. She alleged that Nath asked her to facilitate a visit to the jail by Ratha, whom he introduced as his friend.

Dash further alleged that Ratha subsequently obtained her mobile number and began sending her suggestive and unwelcome messages.

The complaint states 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 the DG wanted to meet her privately.

He allegedly made another invitation on September 25 or 26, asking her to meet at Hotel Pramod, where Nath would reportedly be present. Dash said she declined both invitations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda