The Central Government has granted permission to the CBI to probe the multi-crore sub-inspector recruitment scam in Odisha, following a recommendation from the state government, a statement on Tuesday informed.
The Odisha Police’s Crime Branch has already made 125 arrests in connection with the case.
“…it is suspected that the roots of corruption are spread to Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and other states. There is also a suspicion of the involvement of inter-state organised criminal gangs in this,” the statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
“The CM’s recommendation has been accepted, and the Central Government has ordered a CBI investigation. The CBI will investigate the attempt, instigation and conspiracy for corruption in this incident,” it said.
The scam involved the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024 for 933 sub-inspector posts. The Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) outsourced the exam to PSU ITI Ltd, which sub-contracted to Bhubaneswar-based Silicon Techlab. Silicon Techlab, in turn, assigned key responsibilities to Panchsoft Technologies.
The irregularities were exposed when 114 aspirants and three suspected brokers were detained at the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, travelling from Bhubaneswar to a “special coaching” centre in Vijayanagaram. The arrested aspirants reportedly paid Rs 10 lakh each upfront, with a promise to pay another Rs 25 lakh after securing the job.
The alleged mastermind, Sankar Prusty, owner of Panchsoft Technologies, has been arrested. He claimed that the scam involved irregularities worth ₹1,000 crore and “surrendered” to expose the co-conspirators.
Officials stated that an additional 110 candidates were scheduled for similar ‘coaching’ in West Bengal’s Digha, near the Odisha border, but the plan was cancelled following the police action in Berhampur.
