Bhubaneswar: A police officer in Nayagarh district has been placed under suspension following serious allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of authority.
Madanmohan Pradhan, former Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Khandapada, was suspended by the Home Department after a woman from the Fatehgarh police station area accused him of making obscene gestures and advances through phone calls and WhatsApp messages.
According to the complaint, the officer allegedly attempted to coerce the woman into a relationship under the pretext of resolving an old case registered at the police station. The woman further alleged that Pradhan repeatedly summoned her to his office, exerted mental pressure, and threatened to implicate her husband in criminal cases if she did not comply.
The complainant has also accused the officer of demanding obscene photographs and forcing her to engage in a physical relationship. She claimed that despite her repeated objections, the officer continued to pursue and harass her.
As part of the evidence submitted, the woman provided an audio clip purportedly featuring the officer asking her to visit him at night and suggesting an intimate relationship. She subsequently lodged complaints with the police, the Director General of Police, and the Odisha State Women’s Commission.
Following the allegations, Pradhan was earlier transferred to the district headquarters. With the suspension order now issued, further departmental inquiry into the matter is expected.
