Odisha Police SI Exam Scandal: Suspicion Swirls Over Question Paper Leak and Top Officials
Allegations of Rs 150 crore scam emerge as Odisha SI exam row deepens, students protest across the state.
Questions Raised Over Question Paper Transport
A new controversy has shaken the Odisha Police SI recruitment exam, targeting private firm Silicon Techlab Pvt Ltd and senior officials. The Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) had entrusted Silicon Techlab with conducting the examination for 933 SI posts. However, questions have emerged after a company vehicle was seen escorting a police van transporting question papers from Kolkata to Cuttack on September 29. Critics ask why Silicon Techlab was involved in such a sensitive task if it had no role in preparing the papers.
Allegations of Massive Scam Surface
Students Against Corruption (SAC), led by Bibhuti Bhushan Mohapatra, alleged that OPRB chairman Sushant Kumar Nath and a senior IAS officer were complicit in a Rs 150 crore scam. Of the 117 arrested so far, 114 are candidates, while Amiya Behera, son of retired Jail DIG Kulamani Behera, is also among the accused. The opposition BJD has slammed the Crime Branch probe as superficial, demanding a CBI investigation. Reports also mention an IG-level officer who refused to accept a tampered question paper box, fueling suspicions of foul play.
Key Figures and Missing Links
While Silicon Techlab director Suresh Kumar Nayak has been interrogated, the main conspirators remain at large. Brokers Shankar Prusty (Panchsoft Technology) and Munna Mohanty are yet to be apprehended. Questions have also been raised about the State Home Department allowing ITI Limited, the main contractor, to frequently switch partners like Silicon Techlab and Richminds Digital from Gujarat, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest.
Protests and Calls for Judicial Inquiry
With 1.53 lakh candidates affected, protests have erupted in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. Concerns are growing that the investigation might be a cover-up to protect influential figures. Activists and opposition leaders are demanding a judicial or CBI probe to ensure accountability and transparency in the recruitment process.
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