Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Home Department has suspended Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Aska, Santosh Kumar Jena, with immediate effect, for alleged misconduct.
According to sources, a jeweller from Aska has lodged a complaint claiming that Jena took gold ornaments from him without making the required payment. He later escalated the matter to the DGP and the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell and even posted a video on Facebook, narrating his ordeal, which was subsequently deleted.
The owner of the gold jewellery shop has since deactivated his Facebook account.
Following the allegation, Ganjam SP Suvendhu Kumar Patra was asked to conduct an inquiry and submit a detailed report. The disciplinary action was initiated against the Aska SDPO on the basis of the report.
“Sri Santosh Kumar Jena, OPS, SDPO, Aska is placed under suspension with immediate effect under Rule 12(1) of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1962, pending drawal of disciplinary proceeding against him,” the May 12 official order of the Home Department said.
Jena’s headquarters have been fixed at the office of the Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, Niti Shekhar . He will work under the administrative control of the IG and has been directed not to leave the headquarters without his prior permission. He has been allowed to draw subsistence allowance as per Rule 90 of the Odisha Service Code during the suspension period.
