The State Staff Selection Commission (SSC) job aspirants in Odisha have suspected that a ‘money for job’ scam was being operated by Biranchi Narayan Sahoo, the Private Secretary to a member of Odisha SSC, who has been arrested by the Vigilance on charges of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Sahoo was arrested on Saturday after the vigilance sleuths recovered Rs 25 lakh cash and detected a total property worth over Rs 3.79 crore during simultaneous searches conducted at multiple locations linked to Sahoo in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and four other places.
The anti-corruption agency’s officers also recovered some admit cards from Sahoo's house raising the suspension that he had possibly received kickbacks from applicants by misusing his official position.
Many aspirants from different parts of the State, who are preparing for SSC jobs in Bhubaneswar, have demanded a thorough probe into the incident.
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“Going by the suspicion, job scams in OSSC if proven true will be seriously unfortunate. It will deprive many talented students to crack OSSC and allow unworthy persons to enter the service. There should be a meticulous probe into the incident,” said an aspirant.
Meanwhile, a day after Sahoo’s arrest, the State Vigilance organisation has intensified probe into the DA case and allegations of scam run by him.
Vigilance sleuths have registered cases against Sahoo’s wife and brother-in-law on charges of helping the accused allegedly take bribes.
According to sources, vigilance sleuths will conduct an inquiry at the Kolathia residence of Sahoo near Bhubaneswar to investigate the alleged deal of bribe.
“Sahoo’s wife and brother-in-law will be made parties into the investigation process. If required, Sahoo will be taken into remand for questioning,” said Vigilance SP R Prakash.
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)