Bargarh: Two Odisha Education Service (OES) officers and a physical education teacher of a government-run school in Bargarh district were arrested on the charge of sexually harassing a woman employee of the School and Mass Education department abusing their authority, police said Thursday, adding that they also engaged in committing financial irregularities.
The accused, identified as District Education Officer (DEO) Jyotikanta Sahu, 45, of Khajurtikra in Ward No. 8 of Bargarh municipality, Block Education Officer (BEO) Surendra Kumar Sahu, 45, native of Kanaktora village under Rengali police limits in Jharsuguda district, and Samir Kumar Panigrahi, 51, PET of Satalma High School and a resident of Bishipali under Barpali police limits in Bargarh district, were arrested after a departmental inquiry found veracity in the sexual harassment allegation levelled by the victim.
Three mobile phones and documents related to the case were seized from their possession. A case (229/26) was registered at Bargarh Town police station based on a complaint filed by Deputy Collector Sumati Panda. The three accused were later produced in a local court and remanded to judicial custody of district jail after their bail pleas were rejected.
According to officials, allegations of sexual harassment and misuse of power against the trio were earlier reported to District Collector Aditya Goyal. Acting on his direction, a committee headed by Deputy Collector Panda was formed to investigate the matter.
The inquiry confirmed the allegations, following which Panda lodged a formal complaint at the Town police station Wednesday. Police summoned the accused for questioning and arrested them after obtaining evidence supporting the charges, officials said.
The probe found out that the BEO, with the knowledge of the DEO, allegedly sexually harassed multiple women employees at the workplace, while PET Panigrahi was found to be involved in financial irregularities. Collector Goyal said complaints had been received a few days ago against some officials of the district education department.
An inquiry was conducted and based on the report, a complaint was filed with the police. The police have taken criminal action, and the district administration will also initiate action against those arrested, he said. As the investigation is underway, several details have been kept confidential.
Action will be taken against anyone found involved, Goyal added.
