Bhubaneswar: Gangadhar Meher University has suspended Gopikanta Suna, an Assistant Professor in the School of Education, following his arrest in connection with a criminal case lodged at the Mahila Police Station in Sambalpur.
According to an official order (Memo No. 2264) issued by the university, the action was taken under Section 299 of the Odisha University First Statute, 1990 and Rule 12 of the Orissa Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1962. The suspension was prompted by a report received from the Inspector-in-Charge of the Mahila Police Station, detailing Suna’s arrest in Mahila P.S. Case No. 56, dated July 16, 2025, registered under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
Pending further proceedings, Suna has been instructed not to leave his designated headquarters — the Office of the Chairman, Post Graduate Council at Gangadhar Meher University — without prior permission. He will be entitled to receive a subsistence allowance as per Rule 90 of the Orissa Service Code during the suspension period.
The office order has been circulated to relevant university authorities and state higher education officials, including the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department and the Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Chancellor, for their information.
This administrative action follows the arrest of Suna earlier this week after a female student lodged a complaint accusing him of sexual exploitation under the pretext of marriage.
