The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken a significant step in the high-profile Odisha sub-inspector recruitment scandal by filing a preliminary chargesheet against 16 alleged middlemen. The chargesheet was presented before a designated court in Bhubaneswar on Monday, shedding light on an inter-state racket that promised leaked exam papers for payments as high as Rs 25 lakh.
The Chargesheet and the Accused
The 16 individuals named in the document are accused of orchestrating a conspiracy to leak question papers for the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE)-2024. Key figures Shankar Prusty and Suresh Nayak are alleged to have played pivotal roles. The chargesheet also names two recently arrested Bihar natives, Amit Bharti and Nitesh Kumar, confirming the racket's links extended beyond Odisha's borders.
According to the CBI's findings, the accused targeted aspirants by offering them access to the confidential exam papers in exchange for massive bribes. Payments ranged between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 25 lakh per candidate. The investigation revealed that candidates were transported on buses to multiple locations outside Odisha, where these illicit transactions were conducted.
Firms at the Heart of the Conspiracy
The chargesheet details how the scam was operationalized through private companies. Shankar Prusty, who is currently in judicial custody, owns a private firm, while Suresh Nayak is the promoter of another company. Crucially, both their firms were contracted by a central public sector undertaking (PSU). This PSU was itself engaged by the Odisha Police to conduct the recruitment examination.
This chain of contracts has raised serious questions about accountability. A candidate involved in the case emphasized that the CBI must now bring the central PSU under its scanner, stating the PSU cannot evade responsibility by outsourcing such a sensitive assignment.
A Scam Unraveled: Cancellation and Arrests
The massive recruitment drive, which aimed to fill 933 posts including 609 police SIs, 253 armed SIs, 47 fire station officers, and 24 assistant jailers, was abruptly cancelled on September 30. This decision came just days before the exams were scheduled for October 5 and 6.
The case first came to light on that same day, September 30, when Berhampur police arrested 117 people, including 114 candidates. These individuals were intercepted while being taken to Andhra Pradesh on three buses from Bhubaneswar. The State Crime Branch subsequently took over the probe, arresting eight middlemen before the CBI formally took charge of the investigation on November 12.
So far, a total of 130 arrests have been made in connection with the scam, with the CBI carrying out five of these arrests.
Unanswered Questions and a Rs 1,000 Crore Claim
While in custody, Shankar Prusty made a sensational claim before journalists, alleging that other individuals masterminded the operation. He stated they struck a deal worth Rs 1,000 crore to acquire the exam papers. However, he refrained from naming any politicians, officials, or specific entities.
This silence leaves critical questions unanswered regarding the possible involvement of the Odisha Police, the recruitment board, political parties, or government agencies. The CBI's chargesheet, based on current evidence, confirms the involvement of the two Bhubaneswar-based firms but the probe is ongoing to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and identify all masterminds.
