Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has pulled up the Odisha police over alleged inaction and procedural lapses in a Rs 6.2 crore fraud case and asked the state to initiate a time-bound departmental inquiry against senior officers.It has also issued notice to the chief secretary under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to consider compensation to the complainant for alleged violation of human rights due to police inaction.In an order passed in Feb this year, the official records available on Monday, the Commission took note of a complaint filed by Prajna Prakash Nayak on April 23, 2025, alleging that he and his wife were victims of “fraud, forgery and cheating”.The complainant alleged that the fraud was to the tune of Rs 6.2 crore, and that police handling the case allowed the accused and errant officers to go scot-free, while his family was falsely implicated.Acting on the complaint, the NHRC directed its investigation division to conduct a spot enquiry in Bhubaneswar, which was done from Sept 8 to 12, 2025. Following the field enquiry, the investigation division submitted its report.The division in the report recommended firm action against officers of Infocity and Airfield police stations, and against the deputy commissioner of police concerned, for negligence in registering the complaint on time and taking action accordingly.Taking the recommendations, the commission directed that the report be sent to the chief secretary to the govt of Odisha and the director general of police (DGP), Odisha, inviting their response within four weeks. The matter has been listed to be called after four weeks.Separately, the NHRC has asked that the DGP conduct a time-bound departmental inquiry against the officers mentioned and take action accordingly. The commission has also issued notice to the chief secretary to give due compensation to the complainant.In a communication issued by deputy registrar (Law) Indrajeet Kumar, public authorities have been requested to submit the additional or complete report by April 19, 2026, for further consideration of the commission.“The department has received the order and will conduct a detailed enquiry into the matter. The department will present fact-finding report before the commission as ordered in the next date of hearing,” a commissionerate police spokesperson said.
