The Odisha government has decided to hand over the probe of the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of police Sub-Inspector to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved a proposal to hand over the investigation to the CBI, citing the spread of the scam to multiple states, including Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Involvement of an inter-state organised criminal syndicate in the alleged scam is also being suspected.
The Crime Branch of Odisha Police, which is currently investigating the case, has so far arrested 123 people, including 114 aspirants for the police Sub-Inspector job.
The bust led the Odisha Police Recruitment Board to postpone the exam indefinitely, citing unforeseen circumstances. About one lakh fifty-three thousand job aspirants had applied for 933 police sub-inspector posts in the Odisha police.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Mr. Majhi on Wednesday handed over the investigation to the CBI as there were serious allegations of widespread irregularities and corruption in the recruitment examination for Odisha police sub-inspectors.
“The probe was initially entrusted to the Crime Branch. Findings from the investigation so far suggest that the roots of the scam may extend beyond Odisha to Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and other States.
There is also strong suspicion of involvement of inter-State organised criminal gangs in the scam,” the statement noted.
“In view of these developments, and to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation that exposes the entire network behind the corruption and brings all the culprits to justice with exemplary punishment, the Chief Minister decided to entrust the probe to the CBI,” the CMO said.
Additionally, the State government is considering establishment of a permanent commission to oversee the recruitment of personnel for police and other uniformed services.
The matter had come to light when the Berhampur police arrested 114 aspirants while they were taken by buses to Andhra Pradesh to obtain leaked question papers in the upcoming Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024.