Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rourkela, Jun 12:

Odisha police today arrested the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of National Institute of Technology (NIT) here in connection with the alleged sexual exploitation of female colleagues.

NIT CSO

Rourkela police arrested Balaram Champatiray from Jagda area under Jhirpani police station limits here.

Meanwhile, Champatiray was produced before Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court here following which he was sent to 14-day judicial remand.

The arrest comes two days after the Orissa High Court rejected Champatiray’s anticipatory bail to evade arrest.

Champatiray had moved the High Court on Tuesday (June 7) seeking anticipatory bail. He had alleged that the allegations against him were motivated and was part of a well-designed conspiracy.

The accused had gone into hiding since May 28 following which police had raided several places to apprehend him.

A team of Rourkela police headed by a DSP-rank officer had raided several places in CDA Sector-6 area under Markat Nagar police limits on Friday and Saturday after getting inputs of him hiding in the city.

According to sources, Rourkela police had tracked Champatiray and his wife’s mobile phone numbers’ location to Cuttack.

It may be recalled that Champatiray was on the run since the first FIR against him was filed at the Rourkela Sector 3 police station on May 28.

Notably, NIT students had resorted to dharna on May 25 demanding Champatiray’s arrest after the alleged sexual exploitation of a woman security officer came to fore.

The students had shown photographs and video of Champatiray’s exploits to media persons.

However, students withdrew their dharna on June 2 following a closed-door meeting between the students and NIT authorities.

Earlier on May 27, Champatiray was suspended by NIT Rourkela authorities following allegations by at least eight female security guards working under him.