Massive Scam Rocks Odisha Police Recruitment

Odisha’s aspirants for fair policing have been cheated by a slick syndicate selling SI badges for Rs 20.25 lakh each. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Wednesday a speedy CBI investigation into the Police Sub-Inspector recruitment scam, which has links spanning Bhubaneswar, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Organised Crime Behind the Recruitment Maze

The Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE), 2024, has faced scandal twice in eight months, including question paper theft leading to exam cancellation. Crime Branch officers revealed the alleged mastermind, Sankar Prusty, director of Panchsoft Technologies Pvt Ltd, Patia, orchestrated operations with aides Muna Mohanty and Srikanta Moharana (Rinku). Their method involved:

• Grabbing question papers

• Conducting secret “selective leak” sessions in Vijayanagaram

• Transporting candidates to rigged rehearsals in Digha

Authorities intercepted 117 candidates en route to Andhra and 110 candidates escaping via West Bengal.

123 Arrested, Questions Remain

Currently, 123 people are in custody: 114 aspirants and nine middlemen. However, authorities still face questions:

• How much money changed hands and who profited?

• How were medical tests and interviews rigged?

• Does an interstate gang exist controlling the network?

Political Fallout Intensifies

A raid on a BJD-linked coaching centre in Bhubaneswar escalated tensions, with the BJP blaming the opposition. Meanwhile, BJD and Congress demand the government’s resignation, accusing it of negligence and lack of effective action.

The post Odisha Police SI Recruitment Scam: Rs 20.25 Lakh Bribes, Interstate Nexus Exposed appeared first on Odisha Connect.

In a major development in the Odisha Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam, the Crime Branch’s CID team conducted an unannounced raid at the Vanik Coaching Institute at CRP Square yesterday, significantly widening the investigation. The team seized a large amount of digital evidence amid growing suspicions of tampering at the examination centre.

Evidence Seized During Raid

The three-hour raid, based on statements from arrested candidates, yielded crucial data from office computers, including records of aspirants trained across Odisha over the past five years, employee information, study patterns of various exam candidates, and bank statements for one year, according to DSP Narendra Behera. He noted that the operation revealed the ‘Jaliyati’ racket to be far more complex than initially anticipated, with potential links among the 12 arrested candidates, six of whom had trained at Vanik.

Speculations of Further Arrests

As the team gathered key leads, tensions ran high. Officials indicated that three more arrests could follow, with notices being issued to key individuals for appearances at the Cuttack office tomorrow, tightening the investigation around the cash-for-jobs syndicate responsible for disrupting thousands of lives.

Institute Denies Allegations

Subrat Chatoi, Managing Director of Vanik, dismissed the allegations, calling the raid a “political conspiracy” linked to his association with a major party. “We have been providing uninterrupted education for 12 years. This is targeted harassment,” he said. While acknowledging that six named aspirants trained at the institute, Chatoi emphasized Vanik’s full cooperation with authorities.

Growing Public Concern

The ongoing probe has intensified public outrage, with protests over the scam escalating. The investigation highlights the deep-rooted corruption in recruitment processes, leaving job aspirants in uncertainty and underscoring the urgent need for swift justice against the culprits.

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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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