Odisha Police SI recruitment scam: Mastermind Shankar Prusty brought to Bhubaneswar; denies involvement

The Crime Branch of Odisha Police, on Sunday, brought the alleged mastermind of the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination scam, Shankar Prusty, to Bhubaneswar after arresting him from Uttarakhand near the Indo-Nepal border.

Prusty, who owns Panchsoft Technologies, had been absconding since the scam surfaced and was reportedly attempting to flee the country when the Crime Branch team intercepted him last night.

Prusty Brought Back Under Tight Security

Sources reported that following his arrest, Prusty was flown from New Delhi to Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar under high security on Sunday morning. He was immediately escorted to the Crime Branch headquarters in Cuttack for interrogation.

His formal arrest memo and transit procedures were completed in Delhi before departure, added sources.

Prusty, however, denied all allegations levied against him and claimed innocence. Upon being questioned by reporters, he stated that he had no connections to the scam, to Muna Mohanty, or any of the accused candidates.

“All of these are baseless allegations. I have complete faith in the court of law and will soon secure bail. I have no connection with Muna Mohanty or the 124 people and candidates involved in the scam. I have already approached both the Orissa High Court and the Supreme Court seeking justice,” he said.

Crime Branch Team Tracks Prusty Across States

According to Crime Branch sources, investigators had been tracing Prusty’s movements across several states for months after he allegedly went underground following the exposure of large-scale irregularities in the SI recruitment process conducted by the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB).

The accused had allegedly used multiple SIM cards and digital communication channels to avoid detection and had moved through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand before reaching the Nepal border region.

Acting on intelligence inputs, a special Crime Branch team, with the assistance of local police in Uttarakhand, apprehended Prusty late Saturday night while he was reportedly preparing documents and logistics for travel to Dubai.

The operation was coordinated under the supervision of senior Crime Branch officials and executed following a sustained digital and ground-level surveillance effort.

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Allegations Of Organised Racket And Paper Leak

The Crime Branch has accused Prusty of being the key conspirator behind the massive paper leak and cash-for-seat racket in the police SI recruitment exam.

Investigations have revealed that Panchsoft Technologies, the company owned by Prusty, allegedly played a crucial role in accessing, storing, and distributing confidential question papers. The leaked papers were reportedly sold to aspirants through a network of agents operating across Odisha and other states.

Investigators suspect that Prusty, with the help of intermediaries such as Muna Mohanty, facilitated the leak and collected lakhs of rupees from candidates in exchange for ensuring selection. The Crime Branch has also traced digital footprints, including WhatsApp messages, financial transactions, and encrypted file transfers, believed to be linked to the network.