Argus News - Odisha Police SI Exam Scam Exposes BJD Links

Bhubaneswar, Oct 17: The Odisha Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of key accused Muna Mohanty and revelations of deep-rooted political involvement. The Crime Branch investigation has uncovered alleged links between the scam’s masterminds and senior leaders of the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD), raising serious questions about political protection and collusion.

Farmhouse Hideout and Political Shield

Muna Mohanty, the alleged kingpin of the scam, was found hiding in a farmhouse owned by BJD leader Abhimanyu Dora, former block chairman of Daspalla in Nayagarh district. Dora is accused of sheltering Mohanty and his associates, turning the farmhouse into a hub for the multi-crore recruitment racket.

Black Money Trail and Coaching Center Nexus

 Investigations reveal that Mohanty and Dora jointly operated a black money syndicate involving job deals and land auctions. The scam reportedly looted crores from aspirants by selling SI posts. Another BJD leader, Subrat Chatoi, is under the scanner for his alleged role through the Banik Coaching Center in Bhubaneswar, which was raided by the Crime Branch after links to arrested candidates surfaced.

Demand For a high-level probe

The ruling BJP and Congress have launched scathing attacks on the BJD, accusing it of shielding scamsters and enabling corruption during the previous BJD government in the state. BJP spokesperson Manoj Mahapatra and Congress leader Bibhuti Prasad Mahapatra demanded a high-level probe into the involvement of senior BJD leaders, warning that more names will surface as the investigation deepens.

Crime Branch officials have interrogated Banik Coaching Center’s HR head, accounts manager, and business manager for hours, and seized laptops and documents. With 114 aspiring candidates already arrested, the probe is expected to expose more layers of political patronage.

A Scam That Shook the System

The SI recruitment scam has not only undermined public trust in the recruitment process but also exposed how political networks allegedly facilitated and protected criminal operations. As the investigation progresses, the role of more BJD leaders may come under scrutiny.

Also Read: Odisha Police SI Exam Scam: Four More Arrested, Prime Accused Still Absconding

Background of the SI Exam Scam 

Acting on a tip from the Chief Minister's Office, Golanthara police intercepted three buses near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border and arrested 114 candidates and three agents for their involvement in a sub-inspector exam paper leak scam.

The candidates were allegedly being transported to Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh to receive confidential question papers for the sub-inspector (SI) written examination.

According to sources, Each candidate had agreed to pay up to Rs25 lakh for the question papers, with Rs10 lakh paid upfront and the remaining Rs15 lakh to be paid after they were selected for the job. The Crime Branch has launched a detailed investigation into the racket.