Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police has recommended disciplinary proceedings against a senior woman police officer for alleged gross negligence and dereliction of duty in the investigation of a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Central Range, has written to the Home Department recommending initiation of disciplinary proceedings against Mamata Sahoo, an Odisha Police Service (OPS) officer currently serving as Additional Superintendent of Police (Additional SP), Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district.
The recommendation pertains to Sahoo’s tenure as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Investigation Unit for Crimes Against Women (IUCAW), Jajpur, where she was the investigating officer in a POCSO case.
According to the allegations, Sahoo had arrested the accused in December 2023 and produced him before a local court. However, she allegedly failed to file the charge sheet within the stipulated 120-day period prescribed for the case. Owing to the delay in filing the charge sheet, the accused subsequently secured bail from the court.
The Odisha Police has alleged that the officer’s failure to complete the investigation and submit the charge sheet within the prescribed time amounted to gross negligence and dereliction of duty under Rule 3 of the Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959.
Based on the findings, the police has recommended initiation of disciplinary proceedings against Sahoo under Rule 15 of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1962.
The Home Department has asked the officer to submit her written statement within 30 days. The communication states that if she fails to furnish her explanation within the stipulated period, it will be presumed that she has no defence to offer, following which appropriate action may be taken ex parte.
