Massive Blow to Odisha’s Education System
The Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, is in the midst of a major controversy following the arrest of its vice-president, Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, in connection with the leaking of the Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) question paper. The Crime Branch has identified eight individuals involved in the leak, including prominent teacher union leaders and a data entry operator. The incident has raised serious questions about the integrity of the state’s examination processes.

The Leak Originated from BSE Vice-President’s Laptop
Investigations revealed that the leaked OTET paper was accessed from Mohanty’s laptop. Jitendra Maharana, a data entry operator with a dubious record at BSE, was found to have obtained the confidential file. According to Director General of Crime Branch Binaytosh Mishra, Mohanty and Maharana had exchanged over 100 phone calls in recent weeks, often outside of official hours, indicating a coordinated effort. Mishra criticized Mohanty’s negligence in maintaining data security, which allowed Maharana access to sensitive information. Maharana has reportedly confessed to leaking the paper.

Shady Past and Suspicious Reinstatement
Maharana’s return to BSE’s secret section after being previously removed for suspicious behavior has also come under scrutiny. Authorities are now investigating how he was reinstated despite past red flags. His role appears to be central in facilitating the leak and in distributing the paper to others in the ring.

Teacher Union Heads and Middlemen Arrested
The scandal widened with the arrest of several teacher union leaders and educators. Prashant Kumar Khamari, Bijay Kumar Mishra, Sanatan Bishoyi, Ramji Prasad Gupta, Ajay Kumar Sahu, and Jayant Kumar Raut were all taken into custody. They allegedly capitalized on desperate aspirants who had previously failed the OTET, selling the leaked question papers for large sums. Crime Branch officials confirmed that Maharana alone received ₹2.5 lakh via PhonePe transactions.

Exam Cancelled, Rescheduled for August 31
The Special OTET, originally scheduled for July 20, was abruptly cancelled after the paper began circulating widely on July 19. The BSE has now rescheduled the exam for August 31, with Paper 1 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM and Paper 2 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Admit cards will be available for download starting August 22.

Ongoing Investigation and Deeper Concerns
The Crime Branch continues to dig deeper into the scandal, probing possible financial transactions, the extent of Mohanty’s involvement, and a potential link to a printing firm in Bhopal. The scandal has not only rocked the BSE but also triggered widespread concerns about the reliability of Odisha’s examination system. Education experts and civil society groups are demanding stricter safeguards and reforms to prevent such breaches in the future.

A Wake-Up Call for Exam Governance in Odisha
As the probe intensifies, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in the current exam administration. With public trust shaken, there is mounting pressure on authorities to implement robust security protocols and ensure that such breaches do not recur.