Oriya IFS officer arrested in US

Odia IFS officer arrested

Surendra Prasad Mohapatra, an Odisha cadre Indian Forest Service officer of 1986 batch was reportedly arrested in the US for alleged “wrongful confinement” of a female employee of the hotel where he was staying on Thursday.

Mohapatra, the regional chief conservator of forests, Sambalpur, was on a mid-career training programme to Syracuse University, New York, along with batch of over 30 other officers. According to sources, Mohapatra had a problem with his internet connection and had approached the reception of the hotel for help. A waitress of the hotel came to his room and could not fix it and left. But two hours later, the local police came to Mohapatra’s room and arrested him on charges of “wrongful confinement,” as made by the lady employee.

Mohapatra’s wife told the media that her husband is somewhat short-tempered and had told something to the waitress in irritated voice when she failed to solve the problem and that may be the reason behind the woman’s grudging.

The Indian embassy in the US has been informed about the development. The Union ministry of environment and forests is also looking into the case.