Odisha SI Recruitment Scam: Arrests Highlight Deep-Rooted Corruption

117 Arrested, Including Candidates and Middlemen

The Odisha Police SI recruitment fraud has come under intense scrutiny, revealing complex schemes implicating both aspirants and officials. Of the 117 arrested, 114 are candidates and three are middlemen. Notably, Prahlad Nag and his wife Munki Rajpalia from Balangir district, who paid Rs 40 lakh for a job, have secured bail. Their case is considered one of the most egregious examples of the recruitment scam.

Money, Influence, and Local Clout

The couple, from the Muribahal police station area, were listed as suspects at serial numbers 75 and 64. They reportedly paid Rs 10 lakh in cash to middlemen upfront, with another Rs 30 lakh to be deposited after the written exam. Munki, a former sarpanch candidate from Patrapali, added political influence to their attempt.

High-Profile Names in the Spotlight

Attention now turns to serial number 66, Amiya Kumar Behera, son of retired Jail DIG Kulamani Behera. With his father recently retired, Amiya’s alleged involvement in the paper leak scandal casts a shadow on the family. Students Against Corruption convenor Bibhuti Bhushan Mohapatra highlighted the scam’s massive Rs 150 crore scale, directly implicating OPRB chairman IPS officer Sushant Kumar Nath.

Calls for CBI Probe and Public Outrage

Over 1.53 lakh candidates competed for 933 posts, and the arrests have sparked widespread demonstrations across Odisha. Mohapatra condemned the system, saying, “The rich sneak into jobs; the poor are left only to dream,” demanding a CBI investigation to uncover the full extent of corruption.

Families Rally as Odisha Questions Its Guardians

As families flock to jails in Berhampur to support the arrested, the state faces a critical question: if those entrusted to uphold the law are involved in such a racket, who will guard the guardians?