In a significant development in Bargarh district of Odisha, two senior education department officials and a physical education teacher have been arrested on charges of sexually harassing a woman teacher. The arrests were made on Thursday after an internal inquiry by the department's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) found prima facie evidence against the accused.
Details of the Arrest
Bargarh Superintendent of Police (SP) Prahlad Sahai Meena confirmed the arrests, stating that the action was taken following a complaint forwarded by the district administration. The ICC had conducted a thorough probe into the allegations and subsequently lodged a complaint with the police on Wednesday. After questioning the accused on the same day, the police arrested them on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as District Education Officer (DEO) Jyotikant Sahu, Block Education Officer (BEO) Surendra Sahu, and Physical Education Teacher Sameer Panigrahi. While the DEO is a native of Jharsuguda district, the other two are residents of Bargarh.
The Complaint and Investigation
Sources revealed that the complainant had initially approached the district collector's grievance cell earlier this month, accusing the trio of repeated sexual misconduct and harassment. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly sent obscene messages at different times and engaged in inappropriate behavior and harassment at the workplace.
Acting on the complaint, the ICC initiated a probe during which it recorded statements from several department personnel and examined text messages and call records linked to the accused. After finding prima facie evidence, the administration referred the matter to the police.
Police Action and Legal Provisions
Based on the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. A three-member team was constituted to probe the allegations, the SP said, adding that police have also sought all details of their findings from the ICC.
The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, as well as Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 79 (insult to the modesty of a woman), 308 (extortion), 201 (public servant framing incorrect document), and 351(2)/3(5) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Following their arrest, the accused were produced in court, which remanded them in judicial custody. Further investigation is underway.
