CBI Court Orders 3-Day Remand in Odisha SI Recruitment Scam
In a significant development in the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam, the CBI court has granted a three-day remand for four key accused individuals.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had sought a four-day remand, but the court approved only three.
The accused include brokers Loknath Sahu and Tafim Ahmad Khan, SSB jawan Biswa Ranjan Behera, and Biswaranjan Harichandan.
They allegedly facilitated candidates’ travel to Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh and Digha in West Bengal, where fraudulent activities were carried out.
Investigations reveal that question papers were leaked to around 110 candidates, each paying between Rs 35,000 and Rs 10 lakh to secure jobs in the police force.
The alleged mastermind, Shankar Prusty, was arrested on November 1, followed by the arrest of Silicon Tech owner Suraj Nayak on November 3.
The CBI officially took over the probe on November 12 and registered an FIR on November 13, naming 114 candidates among others. So far, 12 accused have been arrested, with 12 candidates interrogated and eight more scheduled for questioning.
The case has also been transferred from the Berhampur JMFC court to the CBI court. The accused, including Prusty, Nayak, and Muna Mohanty, have been shifted from Berhampur Circle Jail to Jharpada Jail.
On November 22, two SI exam candidates were interrogated for five hours at the CBI office.
The CBI is expected to intensify questioning during the remand period to uncover further details of the recruitment fraud, which has shaken public trust in the state’s police recruitment process.
