Bhubaneswar : Archana Das, the wife of Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer Sarthak Saurabh Mahapatra, has come forward with serious allegations of abandonment, mental harassment, and domestic neglect. Speaking at a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Archana said, “I didn’t receive any divorce notice. I was still living in his house. How could I be the one harassing him?”
Das claims her husband left her and their newborn son alone in a hospital without making any payment or informing the family, forcing her to manage everything single-handedly. “I served my mother-in-law with full responsibility as a daughter-in-law. Despite trying every possible way for 90 days, I finally had no choice but to seek justice through the police,” she stated emotionally.
Archana has filed a formal complaint at the Bhubaneswar Mahila Police Station, naming not only her husband but also her mother-in-law Kabita Manjari Rath and sister-in-law Saina Sonali Mahapatra for alleged verbal abuse, mental cruelty, and deliberate neglect.
The couple, who had a grand wedding in 2024, became parents to a baby boy just a few months ago. According to Archana, following the childbirth in May, Sarthak abandoned them at the hospital and has remained out of touch ever since. “Even after repeated calls, there was no response from him,” she alleged.
Responding to the complaint, Sarthak appeared before police and gave a statement denying all accusations. He claimed, “My wife never supported my ailing mother and behaved as if spending time with my family was a crime. I thought things would improve after the child’s birth, but instead, she accused me of child malnutrition while staying at her own home.”
Sarthak also confirmed filing for divorce and expressed his desire to meet his son, but only in a formal setting. “I trust the court and Lord Jagannath,” he added. “I’m not Atul Subash. I’ll fight till the end.”
The allegations and counterclaims have stirred public interest, with the case now becoming one of the most discussed personal controversies involving a senior bureaucrat in Odisha in recent times.
