Vigilance court cracks down on irregularities in Orissa HC ASO exam, rejects bail of 4 accused

A vigilance court in Cuttack on Wednesday rejected the bail applications of four individuals arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the Assistant Section Officer (ASO) recruitment examination conducted by the Orissa High Court.

 The accused — Himansu Sekhar Dash, Sridhara Mantri, Nirmalaya Kumar Das, and Gangadhara Jena — were taken into custody on January 31 following an investigation into alleged malpractice during the recruitment process. The case pertains to suspected leakage of model answers and the use of unfair means in the main written examination held in July 2025.

Booked Under Relevant Sections

 According to vigilance officials, the accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The prosecution argued that the investigation is still at a crucial stage and that granting bail at this point could hamper evidence collection and further inquiry.

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 After hearing the arguments, the vigilance court observed that the allegations are serious in nature and could have far-reaching implications for the integrity of the recruitment system. The court declined to grant bail, citing the need for a thorough and unhindered investigation.

Result Declared Recently

 The alleged irregularities had earlier prompted the Orissa High Court to cancel the examination and order a fresh test. The re-examination was subsequently conducted, and the results were declared earlier this year.

 The case has drawn significant attention, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in public recruitment examinations in the state.