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Odisha police arrested 114 aspirants for sub-inspector of police while they were taken by buses outside the State to obtain leaked question papers in the upcoming Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024.
Acting on a tip-off about a huge malpractice in the upcoming CPSE-2024 conducted by Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB), a team of Berhampur Police intercepted three air-conditioned sleeper buses near Andhra Pradesh border.
“On verification, it was found that the three buses had 117 passengers. Among them, 114 persons, including eight women candidates, had applied for the upcoming sub-inspector examination,” said Saravana Vivek M, Berhampur Superintendent of Police on Thursday (October 2, 2025).
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The examinations, which were scheduled for October 5 and 6, had already been postponed following allegations of irregularities in examination.
Mr. Saravana, in statement, said as this appeared suspicious , further enquiry was conducted and it was found that , these 114 candidates boarded the three buses from Bhubaneswar near Baramunda and were travelling to an undisclosed location in Vizianagaram by the other three agents. These three agents were in-turn operating on behalf of other agents, police said.
According to Berhampur police, it was further revealed that all of them are engaged in an organised crime of sabotaging the upcoming Sub Inspector examination. “Their plan was to get the confidential question paper in Vizianagaram secretly and then come back to Bhubaneswar and appear the examination,” said Berhampur SP.
As per preliminary investigation, all aspirants had agreed to pay ₹25 lakh each for question papers in installments of ₹10 lakhs initially and ₹15 lakhs once the job is confirmed.
During investigation it was also found that many more agents are involved in this racket. A FIR has been registered in Golanthara Police station in Ganjam district in this connection. They have been booked under Section 319(2), 318(4) and 338/336(3) and Sec 11(1) and 12(1) of The Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024. They have been forwarded to court. Crime Branch of Odisha police is investigating into the case.
Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed shock over the cancellation of examinations, stating that it marked the fourth recruitment examination scrapped since July 2025 amid allegations of malpractice and question paper leaks.
“In July 20, the Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET)-2025 was cancelled just hours before commencement after a paper leak triggered widespread outrage. In July 30–31, the Odisha Subordinate Staff Section Commission cancelled its Combined Recruitment Examination (for revenue inspector, assistant revenue inspector and Amin) that was scheduled between August 1 and September 4, citing irregularities in the preliminary process. On August 22, the rescheduled special OTET-2025 was postponed again, with Board of Secondary Education citing unavoidable circumstances, leaving aspirants frustrated,” Mr. Patanik elaborated.
Former Odisha CM said these repeated disruptions highlighted a troubling pattern in Odisha’s recruitment system, undermining trust and affecting lakhs of job seekers across the State.
Published – October 02, 2025 04:15 pm IST
