Bhubaneswar: A former employee of Air Odisha on Wednesday lodged a complaint at Khandagiri police station here, alleging that she was raped by Air Odisha Director (Operations) Santosh Pani.
The girl, hailing from West Bengal, accused Pani of having raped her when she was working as a security supervisor with the regional airline.
“I had joined the company on July 2 as a security supervisor. On August 10, he offered to drop me at my place in the evening. Though I declined the offer, he insisted on doing so. On the way, he stopped his vehicle in front of an alcohol shop and started drinking in the car. As I don’t drink, he offered me cold drink mixed with drug. He physically harassed me in the car. He then forcefully entered my rented house and raped me,” the former employee said.
She further alleged that Pani raped her on August 12 at his friend’s house for the second time. “On August 13, I left the job and went back to Kolkata,” she added.
The complainant is currently working with Air Deccan in West Bengal. “On September 14, I narrated my ordeals in detail to my present company’s Chief Security Officer. He told that he would support me to get justice.”
“I have been working in aviation since past four years. I have never faced such a problem in any companies. I want justice now and I will fight for it,” she added.
Refuting the allegation, Santosh Pani questioned the delay in filing the complaint. “She has taken this step for money. She was working in our company and was embroiled in controversy following a fight with our staff. She was not working properly. When her senior reprimanded her, she threatened to slap a rape case on him.”
Notably, the complainant left her job over a month ago.
He said that the company had accepted her resignation. “She demanded for her pending salary immediately. We are waiting for the clearance from all the departments, as it is a rule,” he added.
Based on the complaint, police have audio and video recorded her statement.
