Police SI recruitment scam: High Court rejects anticipatory bail plea of main accused Shankar Prusty

In a major development in the Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam case, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail petitions filed by the main accused, Shankar Prusty and his wife, Deeptimayee Sahu.

The court, while hearing the matter, directed Deeptimayee Sahu to appear before the trial court and file a regular bail application as per legal procedure. According to police sources, both Shankar and Deeptimayee have been absconding since the day the scam came to light, and efforts are ongoing to trace their whereabouts.

Shankar Prusty, alleged to be the mastermind behind the racket and head of Panchsoft Company, had approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

Also Read: Odisha Police SI exam ‘sabotage’: Shankar Prusty, Muna Mohanty under scanner in multi-crore recruitment fraud

According to sources close to the investigation, Shankar Prusty is currently absconding and is believed to be hiding in Dubai. Reports indicate that he fled India via Nepal shortly after the scam surfaced, raising questions about how he managed to leave the country despite being a key suspect.

The massive recruitment scam came to light on September 27, revealing large-scale irregularities in the Odisha Police SI examination process. Following the exposé, several individuals, including candidates and intermediaries, were taken in for questioning, while the Special Task Force (STF) and Vigilance officials intensified their probe.

The SI exam scam, which rocked the recruitment process, has raised serious concerns over transparency in competitive examinations in the state.