Odisha Police SI exam ‘sabotage’: Crime Branch DSP Ratnaprava Satpathy to head probe

The Odisha Crime Branch has appointed DSP Ratnaprava Satpathy to lead the investigation into the multi-crore Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam. The case, initially registered at Golanthara Police Station in Ganjam (PS Case No. 447/2025), has now been officially handed over to the Crime Branch for a detailed investigation.

According to an order issued by the Director General of Police, CID-Crime Branch, DSP Satpathy will take full charge of the investigation under the provisions of PMR-410(A). SP Anil Kumar Beuria has been designated as the supervising officer and will oversee the investigation and issue supervision notes as required.

“… Depute Smt. Ratnaprava Satpathy (OPS, DSP), CID, Crime Branch, Cuttack, to take up the investigation of the case and all other cases registered in connection with immediate effect. For this purpose, Ratnaprava Satpathy, OPS, DSP, CID, Crime Branch, will have the power to function as provided under PMR-431 (C),” the office order read.

The high-profile case, registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, involves large-scale manipulation and corruption in the police recruitment process.

Meanwhile, police sources said efforts are on to trace and arrest the alleged masterminds of the racket, Shankar Prusty and Muna Mohanty, who are still absconding despite extensive search operations.

Preliminary findings indicate that the scam was operated by a network of brokers who struck deals with aspirants, reportedly demanding Rs 25 lakh from each candidate in exchange for securing their selection.

117 Arrested So Far

Aspirants were allegedly taken outside Odisha for ‘special coaching’, while their original certificates were seized as collateral until payment was completed. So far, police have arrested 114 candidates and three middlemen in connection with the fraud.

Also Read: Odisha Police SI recruitment scam: Retired DIG’s son among arrested candidates!

The controversy has also put the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) in the spotlight. Though OPRB initially handed over the responsibility of conducting the exam to ITI Ltd., the task was later subcontracted to Silicon and subsequently to Panchsoft Pvt. Ltd., a firm reportedly headed by Shankar Prusty. This layered subcontracting has raised serious questions about transparency in the recruitment process.