Odisha SI exam scam: CBI questions four, summons six more

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday questioned four individuals in connection with the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam, marking the first phase of interrogation after the agency officially took over the probe earlier this month.

Sources reported that 10 people were summoned, but only four appeared before investigators. The questioning lasted nearly eight hours at the CBI office in Bhubaneswar. One of those interrogated is a candidate who was earlier arrested by the Odisha Crime Branch and later released on bail.

Reports added that the marathon session began around 3 pm and continued till approximately 11:30 pm. All four individuals were allowed to leave after questioning. Investigators said information provided during these sessions would be cross-checked against documents and electronic evidence collected so far.

CBI Probe Initiated After Centre’s Notification

The interrogation follows a notification issued by the Government of India on November 11, authorising a CBI probe into the SI recruitment irregularities. The order was issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

The sensational case involves alleged tampering of examination data and unauthorised access to digital systems during the recruitment process. The CBI is now examining how the alleged manipulation occurred, who facilitated it, and whether monetary transactions were involved.

ALSO READ: Big update in police SI recruitment scam: Crime Branch makes another arrest linked to Shankar Prusty

Prior Crime Branch Findings Under Review

Before the transfer of the probe, the Odisha Crime Branch had conducted multiple rounds of interrogation and obtained judicial custody of the key accused, Shankar Prusty.

Earlier this month, the Crime Branch moved a court in Berhampur seeking permission to conduct polygraph tests on Shankar Prusty, head of Panchsoft Technologies, and another accused, Suresh Chandra Nayak, owner of Silicon Tech.

Investigators claimed the duo gave contradictory statements during questioning, prompting the request for lie-detection tests.

Prusty, considered a major suspect in the alleged data tampering, was arrested near the Indo-Nepal border after remaining untraceable for more than a month. He was brought to Bhubaneswar for interrogation and was also confronted with another accused, Muna Mohanty, to verify how recruitment-related data was accessed and modified.

CBI to Continue Summons; Focus on Digital Evidence

Sources said the remaining six individuals, who received summons, are expected to appear today. Meanwhile, the CBI is examining records of institutions associated with the online exam, communication data of the accused, and digital logs relevant to the recruitment process.

The agency is expected to seek more technical documents from private software firms and servers linked to the recruitment process as part of the investigation.