Bhubaneswar, 4 October (H.S.) : The Odisha Crime Branch has appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ratnaprava Satpathy to spearhead the investigation into the multi-crore Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination scam. The case, originally registered at Golanthara Police Station in Ganjam has now been formally transferred to the Crime Branch for a comprehensive probe.
According to an order issued by the Director General of Police, CID-Crime Branch, Satpathy will assume charge of the investigation under provisions of PMR-410(A). Superintendent of Police (SP) Anil Kumar Beuria has been designated as the supervising officer and will oversee the investigation, issuing supervision notes as required.
The official order stated: “Smt. Ratnaprava Satpathy (OPS, DSP), CID-Crime Branch, Cuttack, is deputed to take up the investigation of the case and all other cases registered in connection with it, with immediate effect. She will exercise powers as provided under PMR-431(C).”
The high-profile case, booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, pertains to large-scale manipulation and corruption in the police recruitment process.
Police sources revealed that efforts are underway to trace the alleged masterminds, identified as Shankar Prusty and Muna Mohanty, who remain absconding despite ongoing search operations.
Preliminary investigations suggest the racket was operated by a network of brokers who demanded around Rs 25 lakh from aspirants in return for ensuring their selection. Candidates were reportedly taken outside Odisha for “special coaching,” while their original certificates were seized as collateral until full payment was made.
So far, 117 people have been arrested, including 114 candidates and three middlemen, in connection with the recruitment fraud.
Officials said the Crime Branch will now focus on unearthing the larger network behind the scam, identifying financial transactions, and ensuring accountability at every level.
Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
