Odisha Police Arrest Bargarh DEO, BEO and Teacher in Workplace Harassment Case

Overview

• A local court sent District Education Officer Jyotikanta Sahu, Block Education Officer Surendra Kumar Sahu, and physical education teacher Samir Kumar Panigrahi to judicial custody after rejecting their bail pleas.
• The case began after Deputy Collector Sumati Panda led a district inquiry that found a staffer's sexual harassment complaint credible, then filed a formal police complaint.
• Police booked the three under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2023, a law that sets rules to prevent abuse at work.
• Officials said the men misused their positions to target women employees, and the probe also flagged alleged financial irregularities tied to the physical education teacher.
• Collector Aditya Goyal said the administration will start disciplinary action as the police investigation continues.