OTET question paper leak case: Odisha govt suspends arrested headmaster Prashant Khamari

In a significant development in the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) question paper leak case, the School and Mass Education Department has suspended Prashant Khamari, the headmaster of a government upper primary school in Vejipada, under Sadar block, following his arrest by the Crime Branch probing the case.

Khamari was apprehended for his alleged involvement in the leak of the OTET 2025 question paper, a scandal that has rocked the state’s education system and raised serious concerns about the integrity of teacher recruitment exams in Odisha. 

Khamari’s arrest adds to the growing list of individuals facing action in the case, including several employees linked to the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, including its vice-president Nihar Ranjan Mohanty.

The Crime Branch, which is currently spearheading the probe, has so far arrested eight individuals, including Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, the Vice President of the BSE. 

Sources in the investigation agency confirmed that all eight accused, including Khamari, will be taken on remand for further interrogation to uncover the wider conspiracy and identify others involved in the racket.

Officials suspect the existence of a well-organised network behind the leak, involving insiders from the Board as well as external facilitators. The leak has not only disrupted the sanctity of the examination process but also cast doubts on the accountability mechanisms within the education department.

The suspension of Prashant Khamari comes as part of the government’s efforts to ensure that strict disciplinary action is taken against those responsible. 

The OTET, meant to ensure quality recruitment of government school teachers, was marred this year due to the unprecedented leak of its question paper, leading to the cancellation of the examination and triggering a massive outcry among aspirants.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch is continuing its investigation, and further arrests or departmental actions are expected as more details emerge from the interrogation of the accused.

The case has prompted calls for systemic reforms, tighter security in examination processes, and digital monitoring to prevent such breaches in the future.