Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday decided to hand over the investigation of Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to a CMO release, the decision was taken keeping in view the possible involvement of organised criminal syndicates across multiple states as revealed by the state Crime Branch’s investigation. “So far, the investigation has revealed that the tentacles of this scam may extend to Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and other states. There is also suspicion of involvement of inter-state organised criminal gangs. Keeping this in view, to fully expose this racket and to bring all involved criminals within the ambit of the law for exemplary punishment, the Chief Minister has decided to hand over the investigation to the CBI,”
Additionally, the state government is considering establishing a permanent commission for the selection of personnel in the police and other uniformed services, it added.
The CM’s decision to transfer the investigation to CBI is seen as a step to bring greater transparency and accountability to the case amid Odisha Congress’ allegation that the Crime Branch investigation was just a cover-up to shield the real culprits.
Earlier this month, the Crime Branch arrested four persons, including one of the prime accused in the multi-crore recruitment scam, which came to the fore after the interception of three buses carrying 114 candidates and three agents by the Berhampur Police in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on September 29 night.
A total of 123 people have been arrested in connection with the massive question paper leak racket for the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE)-2024 conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB). However, the prime accused Shankar Prusty, who was in Delhi during the arrest of the 114 candidates and the agents, is still absconding. The group operated under Prusty, director of Panchsoft Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bhubaneswar, and he closely monitored the syndicate through agents who contacted aspirants, collected original certificates and blank cheques, and promised question papers in exchange for payments of Rs 20–25 lakh.