Odisha Police SI exam sabotage: Bail applications of 119 arrested persons rejected

In a significant development in the ongoing Odisha Sub-Inspector (SI) examination sabotage, the JMFC Court in Berhampur on Wednesday rejected the bail applications of 119 individuals, including the masterminds of the case. 

Among those affected, 114 are candidates who were arrested for their alleged involvement in the scam, while 5 are identified as middlemen (brokers) who facilitated the malpractice. Among others are a few serving constables, engineering graduates and company executives, who allegedly conspired with middlemen to access the question papers ahead of the exam.

On the other hand, eight of the arrested job aspirants are women.

Also Read: Odisha Police SI recruitment scam: Crime Branch detains another youth from Balasore

The court’s decision to dismiss all bail pleas comes as a major setback to those accused in the high-profile case, which has drawn widespread attention across the state. Authorities have been cracking down on irregularities in the recruitment process, and this ruling underscores the judiciary’s strict stance on the matter.

Investigation into the scam is ongoing, with further legal proceedings expected as the case moves forward.
As per reports, the candidates and the middlemen were arrested while they were on the way to Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh to procure the question papers from unknown middlemen, police said.

Meanwhile, following the arrest, the written exams for the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE), 2024, initially scheduled for Oct 5 and 6, were postponed due to suspicions of a paper leak. The candidates had agreed to pay Rs 25L each to obtain the question papers, with an initial payment of Rs 10L and the remaining Rs 15L upon recruitment.

Police suspect the agents arrested are part of an organised racket in which at least 40 middlemen from Odisha and other states are involved.