Odisha Jail DG Nath Faces Harassment Complaint, Moved to Home Dept

Odisha's prisons leadership is under scrutiny after a former woman jailer accused Sushant Kumar Nath, a senior IPS officer and current DGP (Prisons), of sexual harassment. The Odisha government has moved Nath to the Home Department as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the wake of the allegations.

The complainant served at Chaudwar Circle Jail in Odisha. In her written complaint, she says that Nath visited the jail on June 16, 2025. She was on leave during that visit. After she returned to duty, she alleges that Nath called her on July 18, 2025.

During that call, she says, the DGP asked her to set up a meeting with Kuldeep Ratha, whom he referred to as a friend. She alleges that Ratha asked for a memorable photo with her at the meeting and got one. He then reportedly collected her phone number, sent her the picture and began sending her emoji messages that she found offensive.

The complaint further states that Nath, through Ratha, twice urged her to meet him alone at two different hotels, first on August 29, 2025, and again on September 25-26, 2025. Both times she refused.

According to her account, she received threats against her life and warnings that her career and reputation would suffer. She says she has been targeted by the DGP (Prisons) ever since she rejected these unwanted personal invitations and declined demands made through Ratha.

She also alleges that records were manipulated to misdirect the inquiry into the escape of two notorious criminals from Chaudwar Circle Jail on the night of October 2-3, 2025, shifting responsibility to others and falsely implicating them.

On the basis of the complaint, Chaudwar Police registered case number 713/26 on October 31, 2026, under Sections 75(2), 351(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and common intention. The investigation has begun.