In an investigation into what could be one of the biggest recruitment scams in Odisha’s history, the Berhampur police intercepted three buses near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on September 30 and detained 117 people.
After verification and interrogation of the detainees for a day, the police found that 114 people were aspirants for the Odisha Police sub-inspectors recruitment exam, conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB).
The Odisha police crime branch, which has taken over the probe into alleged irregularities, said earlier this month it prima facie found an “organised criminal syndicate” that planned to subvert the examination process. Though scheduled for October 5 and 6, the OPRB announced the exam’s postponement due to “unforeseen developments.” Here is what to know.
Attempt to access question papers
After intercepting the buses, the police found that 117 people had boarded three special AC sleeper buses from Bhubaneswar to travel to an undisclosed location in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh.
“Preliminary probe revealed that an organised criminal syndicate is operating to subvert the entire examination process by adopting unfair means for monetary gain,” an official Crime Branch (CB) statement said.
They planned to obtain the confidential question paper in Vizianagaram, receive some coaching for the exam, and then return to Bhubaneswar to appear for the exam at their respective centres. The candidates had agreed to pay Rs 25 lakh each in instalments – Rs 10 lakh initially and the rest once the job was confirmed. The police have arrested all 117 people, including 114 aspirants and three middlemen.
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A total of 120 people have been arrested in the alleged scam so far, and the CB also raided some coaching centres in Bhubaneswar.
About the recruitment drive
On January 17, the OPRB issued a notification for the Combined Police Service Examination to fill 933 posts of sub-inspectors under various categories. More than 1.53 lakh candidates applied. Though the examination was initially scheduled on March 8 and 9, it was rescheduled for October 5 and 6.
Over one lakh aspirants now face uncertainty. The OPRB has announced that once the investigation concludes, the recruitment process will be resumed and completed at the earliest.
The saga of outsourcing
As the OPRB comprises only three members, three officials, and a few constables, and it is tasked with managing recruitment from the advertisement to the final result publication stage, it engaged a central Public Sector Undertaking called ITI Limited. The company was involved in framing question papers, printing and related operations.
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The PSU sub-contracted the jobs to Silicon Techlab, which further outsourced some tasks to Panchsoft Technologies. Both were private entities, and their Bhubaneswar-based offices have now been sealed.
Sankar Prusty, promoter of Panchsoft Technologies, has allegedly been absconding ever since the police detected the alleged scam. The Crime Branch on Monday (October 13) issued a lookout circular for the arrest of Prusty and several other suspects, while multiple CB teams conducted raids in Jharkhand and Bihar.
The OPRB said that when the central PSU outsources any of its work to third parties, the responsibility of oversight and supervision remains entirely with it. Now, the OPRB has issued a show-cause notice to ITI Ltd for its alleged failure to “fulfil its contractual obligations.”
In October last year, protests were held in various districts of Odisha over the decision of the Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Committee (OSSSC) to engage private entities to undertake the recruitment of Revenue Inspectors (RI), amin and other posts, citing irregularities.
Calls for CBI probe
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Hundreds of aspirants have hit the streets in recent days, demanding a thorough probe into the matter. Alleging the involvement of influential figures in the scam, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has launched a statewide agitation demanding a CBI probe, while the Congress demanded a court-monitored probe.
A public interest litigation (PIL) has also been filed in the Orissa High Court for a CBI probe. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assured a fair and transparent recruitment process and has promised to take stringent action.
