GM University Suspends Assistant Professor Gopikanta Suna After Arrest in Sexual Exploitation Case

Sambalpur: Gangadhar Meher University has placed Assistant Professor Gopikanta Suna under suspension following his arrest in a criminal case linked to allegations of sexual exploitation.

The accused, a faculty member in the School of Education, was taken into custody by the Mahila Police in Sambalpur after a female student lodged a complaint accusing him of exploitation under the false promise of marriage.

The university, in an official order (Memo No. 2264), cited Section 299 of the Odisha University First Statute, 1990 and Rule 12 of the Orissa Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1962 as the basis for the suspension. The move came after the Inspector-in-Charge of the Mahila Police Station submitted a report regarding Suna’s arrest in Mahila P.S. Case No. 56, dated July 16, 2025, under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The suspension order has been formally communicated to key administrative authorities, including the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department and the Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Chancellor.