Bhubaneswar: Further intensifying its probe into the police sub-inspector (SI) recruitment scam, the Odisha Crime Branch has issued lookout circulars (LOCs) against two absconding persons allegedly involved in the case.
As per information, the Crime Branch has informed the Bureau of Immigration to prevent these accused persons from leaving the country. A lookout circular is an alert issued by authorities to restrict the travel of individuals under investigation or facing legal action.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch is making all efforts to trace the two, Muna Mohanty and Shankar Prusty, within the state and outside. Teams have reportedly visited at least seven states as part of the probe.
Officials said bank accounts of eight accused persons, including alleged middlemen Muna Mohanty and Shankar Prusty, have been frozen. So far, over Rs five lakh has been seized from these accounts.
The case originated after the Odisha Police Recruitment Board lodged a complaint alleging largescale irregularities in the SI recruitment examination. Initially, Berhampur Police launched an investigation and carried out raids outside the state. Subsequently, the matter was handed over to the Crime Branch.
Altogether 119 people, including 114 job aspirants, have so far been arrested in connection with the scam.
The Crime Branch also conducted a raid at Vanik Coaching Institute in Bhubaneswar after several arrested candidates mentioned the institute during interrogation. Following the raid, three officials of the institute were summoned for interrogation.