Odisha suspends senior IPS officer over constable's alleged illegal domestic work
The Odisha government on Thursday suspended senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Dayal Gangwar following an inquiry into allegations that a constable, who was lynched last month, had been illegally engaged in domestic work while serving under him.
Officials said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved Gangwar's suspension after an investigation found that the deceased constable, Soumya Ranjan Swain, aged 32, was engaged in domestic duties at Gangwar's residence. Gangwar was not directly linked to the lynching incident, which occurred in Balianta area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
The parents of Swain had accused Gangwar of subjecting their son to physical and mental harassment during his tenure under the officer. Swain was lynched by a mob on November 19 after being accused of theft. The case is being investigated separately.
Gangwar could not be reached for comment on his suspension. The Odisha government's action follows a departmental inquiry that reportedly found evidence of the constable being used for domestic chores, which is not permitted under police service rules.
