CBI Conducts Raids on Bhubaneswar College in Major Police Recruitment Paper Leak Investigation
In a significant development in the ongoing Odisha police sub-inspector recruitment exam paper leak case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out raids on a private college in Bhubaneswar on Monday. The agency is investigating the institute's suspected connections to a criminal racket involved in leaking question papers ahead of the crucial recruitment test.
Suspected Role of Educational Institution in Examination Malpractice
According to CBI sources, the agency received specific intelligence indicating that certain functionaries of the private college were linked to an organized syndicate responsible for the paper leak. The college was allegedly being prepared to serve as an examination center to facilitate the malpractice, creating an environment where the leaked papers could be exploited during the actual test administration.
The sub-inspector recruitment examinations, originally scheduled for October 5-6, 2025, faced abrupt cancellation on September 30 following serious allegations of paper leakage. The decision came amid mounting public anger and political pressure, with candidates and opposition parties demanding a thorough investigation into the scandal that threatened the integrity of the recruitment process.
Timeline of the Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The Odisha state government formally transferred the investigation to the CBI on October 22, citing the interstate dimensions of the case that required central agency intervention. The CBI officially assumed charge of the probe on November 12 and has since made substantial progress, filing a preliminary charge sheet against 16 accused individuals on December 26.
Investigations have revealed the operation of an organized crime syndicate that systematically leaked examination papers through a network of middlemen. These intermediaries allegedly demanded exorbitant payments of up to Rs 25 lakh from aspiring candidates in exchange for access to the leaked question papers, exploiting the competitive nature of the recruitment process.
Arrest Statistics and Recruitment Board Arrangements
The investigation has resulted in approximately 131 arrests across multiple law enforcement agencies:
- 117 arrests by Berhampur police
- 8 arrests by the state Crime Branch
- 6 arrests by the CBI
The Odisha Police Recruitment Board had engaged a central public sector undertaking (PSU) to conduct the Combined Police Service Examination, 2024. This examination aimed to fill 933 crucial positions within the state police force, including:
- 609 police sub-inspectors
- 253 armed sub-inspectors
- 47 fire station officers
- 24 assistant jailers
In a concerning revelation, the PSU subsequently subcontracted another company to prepare the examination question papers. This second company then hired a third firm to supply manpower at examination centers—a critical arrangement that was not disclosed to the Odisha Police Recruitment Board, creating vulnerabilities in the examination security protocol.
The CBI's raid on the Bhubaneswar college represents a crucial step in unraveling the complex network behind the paper leak scandal, which has compromised one of the state's most significant police recruitment drives in recent years.
