Odisha’s Director General of Prisons, Susanta Kumar Nath, was transferred to the post of Officer on Special Duty on November 1, 2026, following a sexual harassment complaint filed against him by suspended jailor Santoshini Dash.
Dash filed the complaint on October 31, accusing Nath and his associate, Kuldeep Rath, of sexual harassment, intimidation and misuse of position. Her allegations relate to an incident during a jail visit in 2025.
In her complaint, Dash reportedly claimed that she faced pressure to withdraw another FIR. She also alleged that she was threatened with damage to her career. The complaint comes months after her suspension in February over a dispute linked to a jailbreak.
The Odisha Home Department issued the transfer order but did not state a reason for the move. Dr. Santosh Bala has taken additional charge of the prisons department.
The police investigation into the complaint is continuing. Nath has not yet issued a response to the allegations. The claims made in the complaint have not been established, and the investigation is ongoing.
