114 Aspirants, 5 Middlemen Denied Bail In Odisha SI Paper Leak Case

Berhampur: In a major development in the Odisha Sub-Inspector (SI) examination paper leak case, the JMFC Court in Berhampur on Wednesday rejected the bail petitions of 119 accused persons, including the alleged masterminds behind the racket.

Of the total, 114 are aspirants who were arrested for their alleged role in the examination scam, while five are identified as middlemen who reportedly arranged access to the leaked question papers. Among the accused are serving police constables, engineering graduates and private company executives. At least eight of the arrested candidates are women.

The court’s decision is a major setback for those accused in what has become one of the most high-profile recruitment scams in the state. Police sources said the accused were intercepted while travelling to Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh to collect leaked question papers from unidentified agents.

Investigators revealed that each candidate had allegedly agreed to pay Rs 25 lakh for the leaked paper, Rs 10 lakh in advance and the rest after securing recruitment. Police suspect a wider organised network involving at least 40 middlemen operating across Odisha and other states.

Following the arrests, the Odisha Staff Selection Commission postponed the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024, which was scheduled for October 5 and 6, amid suspicions of a paper leak. The investigation into the case is still underway.