CBI Formally Assumes Control of Investigation

Bhubaneswar, Nov 12: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially taken over the probe into the Odisha Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment exam scam, following approval from the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

The move marks a major escalation in the ongoing investigation into the multi-crore recruitment irregularity that has rocked the state’s police recruitment system. Earlier, local police had arrested 114 candidates and three agents for their alleged involvement in leaking the question paper for the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024.

From Berhampur Arrests to CBI Takeover

The case first came to light when Berhampur police, on September 29, 2022, intercepted a group of 114 candidates and three middlemen near the Andhra Pradesh border. The group was accused of orchestrating a question paper leak racket that spanned multiple states.

Citing the interstate dimension of the crime, the Odisha government recommended a CBI investigation on October 22, 2024. The recommendation was later formalised through two official notifications — No. 36169 (October 27) and No. 37152 (October 31) — issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department.

These notifications, referred to in the Centre’s approval letter, indicate a decisive shift in the state’s stance, reflecting growing pressure for a transparent and impartial probe.

Key Documents Handed Over to CBI

A CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has already collected crucial files from the Odisha Home Department, marking the formal beginning of the central probe. The CBI will now investigate the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) and examine its links to Panchsoft Technologies and its associate Silicon Techlab, which were responsible for conducting the exam.

Sources said that while the Odisha Crime Branch had earlier arrested the alleged mastermind Shankar Prusty and his aide Suresh Kumar Nayak, the inquiry had not delved deep into the tech firm’s role in the leak. The CBI is expected to trace financial trails, identify insider involvement, and uncover the full extent of the conspiracy.

Political Ripples and Growing Accountability

The CBI takeover has generated political tremors in Odisha, with opposition parties calling it a vindication of their demand for a central probe. The notifications from the state’s General Administration Department are being viewed as a policy shift amid allegations of mishandling and cover-up during the earlier stages of the investigation.

Officials suggest that the central agency’s involvement will help restore public confidence in the recruitment process, which has been severely damaged by the scandal.

125 Arrests So Far; Confidence in System at Stake

With the total number of arrests rising to 125, including several intermediaries and candidates, the CBI aims to map the entire network behind the leak — from the exam organisers to external facilitators. The agency has hinted at a comprehensive forensic audit of the digital and financial transactions linked to the examination process.

By unravelling the layers of this conspiracy, the CBI hopes to rebuild trust in Odisha’s police recruitment system and ensure accountability across all levels involved in the misconduct.

The post CBI Dives into Odisha SI Exam Scam: Dual Notifications Stir Debate appeared first on Odisha Connect.