One More Arrest in Odisha SI Recruitment Exam Scam

Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested one more person in connection with the alleged Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination scam in the state.

The accused has been identified as Biswaranjan Behera (29), a resident of Barang area in Cuttack district. He was arrested for his alleged role in facilitating the leak of question papers and collecting money and documents from aspirants on behalf of an organised criminal group.

Earlier, authorities had postponed the SI recruitment examination after suspicions of a question paper leak, leading to the arrest of 117 persons, including 114 SI aspirants.

According to the Crime Branch, preliminary investigations indicate the involvement of an organised syndicate in the scam. Behera allegedly contacted several candidates, collecting bank cheques and original certificates in exchange for providing leaked question papers ahead of the examination.

Behera has been booked under Sections 319(2), 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 111, 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 11(1) and 12(1) of the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

Following interrogation and seizure of incriminating materials from his possession, Behera was produced before the JMFC Court in Behrampur, the Crime Branch stated.

“Multiple teams are investigating the case, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the main conspirator behind the scam,” the agency added.