Harvard-educated Odisha DIG-rank IPS officer suspended for misbehaving with inspector in Bhubaneswar

The Odisha government suspended Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao, a DIG-ranked IPS officer, on Tuesday for allegedly misbehaving with a woman inspector at her residence in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. The incident followed his recent return from the US after completing a mid-career course on public administration at Harvard Kennedy School. He was serving as DIG (fire services and home guards) at the time of the incident.According to the chief minister’s office (CMO), the suspension came after the Director General of Police (DGP) submitted a confidential report on the alleged misconduct.

“There was an allegation against Pandit that he abused his position and indulged in misconduct. Chief minister Mohan Majhi promptly suspended the IPS officer for his indiscipline and ordered initiation of disciplinary proceeding against him,” a written statement from the CMO said.

Sources in the DGP’s office provided further details. Pandit, a 2007 batch IPS officer, had visited the woman inspector’s official residence on Saturday night. An altercation reportedly broke out between them, during which Pandit allegedly created a ruckus and misbehaved with the inspector and her family. Notably, neither the inspector nor her family members filed an official police complaint against Pandit.

A home department order elaborated on the sequence of events and the ensuing actions.

“The DGP submitted a confidential report against Pandit on the incident that took place under the jurisdiction of the Capital police station. A disciplinary proceeding against him is contemplated on the grounds of grave misconduct as a member of the Indian Police Service.”The government issued an official order placing Pandit under immediate suspension. “The govt has placed Pandit under immediate suspension. During the suspension period, Pandit is required to report to the state police headquarters and cannot leave without the DGP’s permission,” the order read.

The incident at the woman inspector’s residence did cause a police response. The Capital police station confirmed that while no written complaint was received, a police control room vehicle was dispatched to the inspector’s quarters on Saturday following reports of disturbance. Attempts by the media to contact Pandit, the woman inspector, and her family members have been unsuccessful.

Pandit is the second IPS officer in Odisha to be suspended in the last two months. On May 28, the Election Commission of India suspended ADG-ranked officer D S Kutey, who was then the special secretary to former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, for “unduly interfering in conduct of election.” Kutey’s suspension was revoked on July 15 by the BJP government, which posted him as an officer on special duty (OSD) in the home department.



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