Senior IRS officer booked for alleged rape and blackmail in Bhubaneswar

A senior officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS-Income Tax) has been booked for allegedly raping a woman at his official residence in Bhubaneswar and threatening to circulate her intimate photographs on social media, police said on Sunday.

The case was registered at the Saheednagar police station under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by the woman. An FIR was lodged on February 20 after a preliminary inquiry found prima facie evidence supporting the allegations.

According to the complaint, the alleged incident occurred on January 15 at the officer’s government quarters. The woman, who is married, said she had visited the residence along with a friend. She alleged that after her friend left, the officer sexually assaulted her and later threatened to make her private images public if she disclosed the incident.

Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh said a thorough investigation is underway. Statements of witnesses have been recorded and digital evidence is being examined. Investigators are also verifying communication records and other electronic material linked to the case.

A separate case has also been registered against a relative of the accused officer for her alleged role in introducing the complainant to him. Officials said her involvement is under scrutiny as part of the broader inquiry.

As of now, there is no official confirmation that the officer has been suspended or placed under departmental action . Police sources said efforts are ongoing to question him as part of the probe.

The Department of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance have not issued any statement regarding administrative action against the officer. Likewise, major civil service associations and IRS officers’ unions have not publicly commented on the matter so far, citing the need to await the outcome of the investigation.

Police said the case is being treated with seriousness given the gravity of the allegations and the seniority of the accused officer. Authorities also stressed that the identity of the complainant will be protected in accordance with legal provisions, and further developments will depend on the findings of the ongoing inquiry.