Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 : A serious sexual harassment allegation has surfaced at the Emergency Response Assistance System (ERAS) 112 Control Room in Bhubaneswar, where a woman working as a sweeper has accused an Assistant Commandant, identified as Deepak Nayak, of allegedly sexually harassing her and misusing his position.

Following the complaint, Mancheswar Police have registered a case, numbered 542/26, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police have initiated an investigation into the allegations.

According to the woman's complaint, the alleged harassment had been continuing for several months. She claimed that the Assistant Commandant would allegedly make inappropriate remarks, call her alone into his chamber and make objectionable gestures. She further alleged that she was threatened with termination from her job if she did not comply with his demands.

The woman also alleged that she was subjected to inappropriate behaviour inside the officer's chamber and that derogatory remarks were allegedly made about her caste.

As part of the investigation, Mancheswar Police reportedly visited the 112 Control Room and examined CCTV footage to verify the sexual harassment allegations. However, footage corresponding to several dates mentioned in the woman's complaint was reportedly found to have been deleted.

The alleged deletion of the CCTV recordings has now become a key point of the investigation, with questions being raised over how and why the footage went missing.

The complainant has also alleged that the Assistant Commandant has remained posted at the 112 Control Room for several years without being transferred and claimed that this had enabled him to misuse his position.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commandant Deepak Nayak has denied the allegations.

Police are continuing their investigation, and further details are awaited.