Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: A special squad of Jagatsinghpur police has arrested suspended Sub-Inspector Amit Kumar Padhi, who had been absconding for nearly four months. Padhi, originally from Balasore and previously posted in Puri district, was wanted in connection with a case of marrying a minor girl from Jagatsinghpur and subjecting her to harassment.

Police sources said a non-bailable warrant had been pending against Padhi. Acting on intelligence, a team tracked him to Andhra Pradesh, where he had been hiding. He was apprehended in a late-night raid and brought back to Jagatsinghpur for interrogation.

The case surfaced after the victim’s mother lodged a complaint accusing Padhi of marrying her underage daughter, establishing physical relations, and later demanding dowry. She further alleged that Padhi had threatened the girl with a false case, an audio clip of which went viral on social media, sparking outrage.

Investigations revealed that Padhi befriended the girl via social media, married her at a temple in Balasore despite being aware of her age, and subsequently subjected her to harassment. Police are now probing deeper into the allegations, including the dowry demand and threats.

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