Transfers & Postings · eGov
The Odisha government has effected a high-level reshuffle of senior IPS officers, transferring DG Prisons Sushant Kumar Nath to the Home Department amid a criminal case and a parliamentary summons.
✦ AI SUMMARY 30-second read
- Sushant Kumar Nath, facing a BNS criminal case over workplace harassment allegations, is shifted from DG Prisons to OSD, Home Department.
- Santhosh Bala, Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, is given additional charge as Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services.
- Saara Sharma returns from central deputation to take charge as DIG, State Vigilance, while Sonali Singh Parmar is posted as SP Jharsuguda.
Why it matters: The reshuffle reorganises senior police leadership across prisons, vigilance, transport and district units in Odisha at a time of active legal proceedings involving a former department head.
This summary was generated by AI. Editors may review and update it.
The Government of Odisha announced a high-level reshuffle of senior Indian Police Service officers across the state, with changes spanning the prisons directorate, State Vigilance, transport, police headquarters and several districts.
The most prominent move sees Sushant Kumar Nath shifted out of his post as Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services and appointed Officer on Special Duty in the Home Department. Nath is currently facing a criminal case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita following workplace harassment allegations, and has also been formally summoned to appear before a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma has similarly received a summons from the same parliamentary panel, alongside formal intimations exchanged between the Police Commissionerate and the Home Ministry on related departmental proceedings.
The key appointments
With Nath's departure from the prisons directorate, Santhosh Bala has been assigned additional charge as Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services. Bala continues in his substantive role as Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory.
Saara Sharma, who has been returning from central deputation, has been posted as Deputy Inspector General of State Vigilance. Amitabh Thakur moves into the post of Transport Commissioner, Cuttack.
Sonali Singh Parmar has been appointed Superintendent of Police for Jharsuguda district.
Other postings in the order
Rajesh Kumar has been given additional responsibilities as Special Secretary to the Home Department. Amritpal Singh, who previously served as SP Nuapada, steps into the role of SP at Police Headquarters.
Gundala Reddy Raghavendra, formerly SP Jharsuguda, has been appointed Assistant Inspector General at Police Headquarters. Tapan Narayan Rath has been posted as SP of Nuapada district.
What happens next
Both Sushant Kumar Nath and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma are required to appear before the Parliamentary Standing Committee following the formal summons issued to them. The reshuffle order takes immediate effect as per the government notification.
About the key officers
Sushant Kumar Nath
| Service | IPS |
|---|---|
| New post | Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Home Department |
| Previous post | DG (Prisons) |
Santhosh Bala
| Service | IPS |
|---|---|
| New post | Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services (additional charge) |
| Previous post | Director, State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) |
Amitabh Thakur
| Service | IPS |
|---|---|
| New post | Transport Commissioner, Cuttack |
Saara Sharma
| Service | IPS |
|---|---|
| New post | DIG, State Vigilance |
| Previous post | Central deputation |
| Career so far | Saara Sharma was on central deputation before being posted back to Odisha as DIG, State Vigilance. |
Sonali Singh Parmar
| Service | IPS |
|---|---|
| New post | SP, Jharsuguda |