The Odisha Crime Branch has launched a search operation to trace a former Inspector-in-Charge of a police station in Nayagarh district, after a local court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in a rape case, officials said.

The accused former Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Sarankul police station has been absconding for some time, they said.

“The Odagaon court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Sujit Kumar Das and directed the police to arrest him. We have launched raids to trace him,” Additional SP S.K. Panda told reporters.

In June, a woman lodged a sexual harassment case against Mr. Das during his tenure as Sarankul IIC. He was subsequently transferred to Nayagarh district headquarters, and later, the DGP suspended him.

Mr. Das secured interim bail from the Orissa High Court, but in August, it withdrew the interim protection, after police produced “strong evidence and witnesses against the former IIC”, Mr. Panda said.

“We are making all efforts to arrest him at the earliest,” the officer added.