Nayagada: The Odisha Crime Branch has launched a search operation to arrest a former inspector-in-charge of Sarankul police station in Nayagada district after a local court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in connection with a rape case.
The accused, former Sarankul IIC Sujit Kumar Das, has been absconding for some time, police said.
“Odagaon court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Sujit Kumar Das and directed the police to arrest him. We have launched raids to trace him,” Additional SP S K Panda told reporters.
A woman had lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Das in June, alleging misconduct during his tenure as the Sarankul IIC. Following the complaint, he was transferred to the Nayagada district headquarters and was subsequently placed under suspension by the Director General of Police.
Das later secured interim protection from the Orissa High Court. However, the interim bail was withdrawn in August after the police presented what they described as strong evidence and witnesses against the former police officer, Panda said.
“We are making all efforts to arrest him at the earliest,” the Additional SP said.
