Senior Officer Shifted Following Political Allegations

In a major administrative development, senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer Rabindra Kumar Sethi — the husband of former Jajpur MP and BJD leader Sharmistha Sethi — has been transferred to Koraput. This move comes amid growing allegations of his active involvement in Biju Janata Dal (BJD) political affairs, despite holding a bureaucratic position.

Sethi was previously serving as the General Manager of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation. As per the new order, he will now assume the role of Joint Administrator for the Koraput region under the KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) belt.

Part of a Wider Bureaucratic Shake-Up

The Odisha government’s General Administration Department issued transfer orders for 28 senior OAS officers on the same day. Of those, 17 — including Sethi — were instructed to be relieved from their current postings immediately and report to their new assignments without delay. Sources indicate this reshuffle was one of the most significant in recent years, aimed at enforcing administrative discipline and distancing officers from political affiliations.

Intelligence Inputs Triggered Transfer Decision

According to high-level sources, the transfer of Sethi was primarily influenced by intelligence reports suggesting his frequent evening visits to Naveen Niwas — the residence of BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Reports claimed Sethi acted as a “shadow private secretary” to the party, an act deemed highly inappropriate for a serving officer under civil service conduct rules.

These findings were reportedly backed by surveillance records and even complaints from within the BJD, highlighting concerns about his continued political alignment post-2024 — a year in which the BJD lost power to the BJP in Odisha.

Political Shadow Over Bureaucratic Neutrality

Sethi’s appointment as General Manager of OFDC following the BJD’s electoral defeat raised eyebrows, with whispers about his political sympathies intensifying. Despite the regime change, his frequent proximity to opposition leadership attracted the attention of state intelligence agencies.

His transfer is being widely interpreted as a punitive move by the ruling BJP government, intended to send a strong message to bureaucrats perceived to be indulging in partisan politics while in service.

Protests, Controversy, and BJP’s Tough Stance

The situation became more charged in the wake of an attack on Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Additional Commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo in June 2025, allegedly carried out by BJP supporters. The OAS Association had protested strongly against the attack, and Rabindra Sethi was reportedly one of the vocal figures in that agitation. His role in those events is also said to have irked the BJP leadership further.

Insiders confirm that a comprehensive intelligence dossier on Sethi’s conduct was reviewed before the final decision to move him to a far-off post in Koraput — a transfer some are calling a clear instance of administrative “punishment posting.”

Crackdown on Political Bureaucracy Begins

The transfer underscores the BJP-led state government’s intention to clamp down on perceived political loyalties within the administrative machinery. It highlights the growing tension between the bureaucracy and political executive as Odisha navigates its post-BJD political landscape.

Observers note that the move reflects a clear message from the current regime: neutrality in service is non-negotiable, and any perceived deviation into political territory will be dealt with firmly.

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