Suspended Balasore Jailor Accuses Former Prison DG Sushant Nath of Pressuring Him to Frame Inmate

Bhubaneswar: A fresh controversy has surfaced in the Odisha Prison Department after suspended Balasore Jailor Pradipta Kumar Mahalik accused former Director General of Prisons Sushant Nath and other officials of pressuring him to falsely implicate an inmate in a drug-related case.

In a formal letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, Mahalik alleged that he was asked to plant brown sugar on an inmate, Rajib Lochan Das, lodged at Balasore District Jail, and subsequently frame him in a police case.

Mahalik claimed that the former Jail DG had allegedly offered him monetary rewards, prizes and promotions to carry out the plan. However, he maintained that he refused to comply with what he described as illegal and unethical instructions.

He further alleged that his refusal led to retaliatory action against him. According to the letter, Mahalik was suspended by the then DG on October 17, 2017, following a period of severe mental stress and illness.

Seeking intervention from the Home Department, Mahalik has urged the authorities to review and revoke his suspension, alleging that the action was arbitrary, malicious and illegal.

He has also sought reinstatement to his former posting at Balasore District Jail.