Odisha Govt transfers SI recruitment paper leak case to CBI for an inter-state probe; 119 arrested, mastermind Sankar Prusty still absconding
OdishaPlus Bureau
The government of Odisha has transferred the investigation regarding the police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment question paper leak to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to a statement from the office of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the leak may involve networks extending into other states. Muna Mohanty, one of the primary suspects in this case, is among the 119 individuals who have been arrested. Sankar Prusty, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the leak, remains at large.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the office of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi indicated that the leak likely involves networks in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and additional states. “…with suspicions regarding the involvement of inter-state organized criminal gangs, the chief minister has opted to assign the investigation to the CBI to guarantee a comprehensive and transparent inquiry, and to ensure that all parties involved are brought to justice with appropriate penalties.”
The statement further noted that the government is contemplating the creation of a permanent commission to supervise recruitment for the police and other uniformed services.
The SI recruitment examination, which was set for the first week of October, was cancelled following the discovery of the leak on September 30. The responsibilities related to the examination were outsourced to ITI Limited, a government-owned telecommunications firm based in Kolkata, which subsequently contracted Silicon Techlab Private Limited in Bhubaneswar. This was later subcontracted to Panchsoft Technologies Private Limited, also located in Bhubaneswar.
Officials from the Criminal Investigation Department, who investigated the case, reported that Mohanty and Prusty collaborated to leak the examination papers. Allegedly, Mohanty’s associates gathered original certificates and blank cheques from candidates in exchange for the leaked question papers, charging ₹20 lakh and ₹25 lakh respectively.
Prusty is said to have operated several fraudulent online test centres that were utilized to enable pre-exam manipulation and oversee candidates. “This operation took place in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, and Digha, West Bengal… Prusty managed the activities from Delhi. Mohanty was responsible for the Vizianagaram module… Arvind Das led the Digha module,” stated Vinaytosh Mishra, the Additional Director General of the CID.