Bargarh DEO, BEO Suspended In Sexual Harassment Case

Bhubaneswar: The School and Mass Education Department has suspended Bargarh District Education Officer (DEO) Jyotikant Sahu and Block Education Officer (BEO) Surendra Sahoo in connection with a sexual harassment case involving a woman official.

The action came after both officials were arrested by Bargarh Police along with a Physical Education Teacher (PET), Sameer Panigrahi of Satlama High School. All three accused have been booked on charges of sexual harassment and allegedly sending obscene messages to a woman Cluster Resource Centre Coordinator (CRCC).

Earlier, the department had suspended PET teacher Sameer Panigrahi following the allegations. After receiving a formal complaint and conducting a departmental inquiry, authorities decided to place DEO Jyotikant Sahu and BEO Surendra Sahoo under suspension as well.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly subjected the woman official to inappropriate behaviour and obscene messages.

Police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation into the matter.