Overview
- Arun Kumar Biswal, an additional secretary in the Commerce and Transport Department, was arrested on September 18 after a woman employee filed a complaint accusing him of trespass, sexual assault, attempt to murder, causing hurt and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Sujit Kumar Raula, senior superintendent of Choudwar Circle Jail, was arrested on September 20 after the Orissa High Court withdrew interim protection and rejected his anticipatory bail in a probe that alleges he tampered with jail records and forged a former jailor’s signature linked to the October 2025 Choudwar escape.
- Both officials were placed under suspension on September 25 after they had been held in custody for more than 48 hours and the Chief Minister’s Office approved action under Odisha service rules.
- Biswal denies the allegations against him while Raula was remanded to judicial custody following the court’s decision to remove his interim protection.
- The cases together raise fresh scrutiny of prison administration and official accountability, and they could prompt further probes into record-keeping and oversight at Choudwar Circle Jail.