Overview

• Bhabani Sankar Das, 47, owner of the Bajpayee Arogyadam clinic in Berhampur, was arrested on June 24 for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl under the guise of facilitating her nursing education.
• Authorities say two women, receptionist Priyanka Sahu and a 50-year-old anganwadi worker, administered water that incapacitated the victim before the assault, leading to their arrest for abetment.
• Prima facie investigations suggest Das’s homeopathy degree is fake, and police have launched credential verification under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act.
• The arrest follows earlier June incidents in Ganjam district, including an alleged gang rape in Gopalpur and the sexual assault of two minors in Golanthara, highlighting persistent failures in child protection.
• BJD senior general secretary Snehangini Chhuria has demanded a CBI probe citing the accused’s appearance with BJP ministers, while the BJP denies any links or interference.