Odisha Police SI Scam: Key Accused Files for Bail

Bhubaneswar: In a dramatic twist to Odisha’s biggest police recruitment scandal, Shankar Prusty, the alleged kingpin of the fraud, has approached the High Court for anticipatory bail.

Prusty, who runs Panchsoft Company, is accused of masterminding the racket that rigged the Sub-Inspector (SI) exam process. His wife, Deeptimayi Sahu, and alleged go-between Muna Mohanty have also filed similar pleas to avoid arrest.

The scam exploded into the open on September 27, exposing widespread cheating in the Odisha Police SI hiring process. Dozens of candidates and middlemen have been grilled by the Special Task Force (STF) and Vigilance sleuths. Sources say Prusty, now on the run, slipped out of India through Nepal soon after the bust and is holed up in Dubai. How he dodged the dragnet remains a mystery.

Probers claim Prusty hacked exam systems remotely to tweak results, letting unqualified folks snag spots. As the High Court gears up to hear the bail bids, experts warn the verdict could make or break the case. Cops haven’t spilled on extradition plans to haul him back, but the net is tightening.