Bhubaneswar: Santosh Kumar Jena, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Aska, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect by the Odisha Home Department over serious allegations of not paying for gold ornaments purchased from a jewellery shop.
According to sources, the jeweller from Aska had lodged a complaint stating that SDPO Jena had taken gold ornaments from his shop but failed to make the payment. The shopkeeper had filed complaints with the DGP and the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell. He had also uploaded a video regarding the matter on his Facebook account, which was later deleted. The shopkeeper subsequently closed his Facebook account.
Following the complaint, the Ganjam Superintendent of Police was asked to submit a detailed report. Based on the SP’s findings, the Home Department initiated disciplinary action against the officer.
In an official order issued, the Home Department stated: “Sri Santosh Kumar Jena, OPS, SDPO, Aska is placed under suspension with immediate effect under Rule 12(1) of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1962, pending drawal of disciplinary proceeding against him.”
During the period of suspension, Jena’s headquarters have been fixed at the office of the Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, Berhampur. He will work under the administrative control of the IG, Southern Range, and has been directed not to leave the headquarters without prior permission of the IG.
He has been allowed to draw subsistence allowance as per Rule 90 of the Odisha Service Code during the suspension period.
