In a significant breakthrough in the multi-crore Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam (CPSE-2024), the Crime Branch of Odisha Police on Wednesday arrested one more associate of Sankar Prusty, the prime accused in the case.
The arrested has been identified as Sagar Kumar Gouda (22), a resident of Balipada in Ganjam district. The Crime Branch arrested him in connection with the ongoing investigation into the large-scale organised criminal conspiracy involving the adoption of unfair means in the CPSE-2024.
The police further informed that Gouda, who is presently residing at the MKCG Medical Campus, in the Baidyanathpur area of Berhampur, is identified as a close aide of the key accused Prusty.
During the investigation by the Crime Branch, Gouda was found to have a key role in managing the operations of the Balasore module, a crucial wing of the organised criminal network involved in the recruitment scam.
“Acting on the instructions of the main accused, Prusty, Gouda coordinated logistical arrangements and ensured the execution of the plan on the ground,” stated the Odisha Police in a statement.
The police learnt that Gouda had visited Digha in West Bengal on September 29, where hotel accommodations had been booked by another key accused, Aravinda Das, for the aspiring candidates.
As per the criminal plan, he was to operate and oversee the secret activities at Digha in direct connivance with Prusty.
With this arrest, the total number of people apprehended in the case now stands at 126, including prime accused Prusty and 114 aspiring candidates.
In a major parallel development, the Union government, after receiving a request from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Tuesday ordered a CBI probe into the scam.
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) on Tuesday issued a notification stating that the decision follows the consent granted by the Odisha Government through its notification dated October 31.
