Bhubaneswar, Oct 6, 2025: The Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination scam continues to unravel, with new names surfacing almost daily. The Crime Branch has now detained Chandan Mallik, a youth from Jaleswar in Balasore district, for alleged involvement in fraudulent activities linked to the recruitment process.

Political Ties Under Scrutiny

Chandan Mallik, reportedly a prominent Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader from Balasore, was an aspirant for BJD ticket from the Remuna Assembly segment in the 2024 elections. Earlier, he was accused of collecting money from students under the pretext of securing staff nurse jobs at the District Headquarters Hospital in Balasore. His political affiliations and past proximity to senior BJD leaders have raised eyebrows amid the ongoing investigation.

Tensions Rise in Bhubaneswar
Meanwhile, political tensions flared in Bhubaneswar during a BJD protest, where party workers allegedly clashed with police. The confrontation escalated to the point where BJD members reportedly manhandled the IIC of Laxmisagar police station. BJP leaders condemned the incident, accusing the opposition party of promoting “organised malpractice.”

Also Read: Odisha Police SI Exam Racket Exposed, Investigation Underway

Crime Branch Cracks Down
Earlier, the Crime Branch had arrested another middleman, Biswaranjan Behera, for collecting original certificates and cheques from job aspirants. He was allegedly working under instructions from a racket mastermind believed to be operating from outside Odisha. The racket reportedly used biometric and logistics setups across multiple exam centers, managed by a company linked to another suspect, Shankar Prusty.

So far, the Crime Branch has nabbed five middlemen, besides 114 candidates, for the alleged scam in the now-postponed Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024.

Two key figures—Munna Mahanti and Shankar Prusty—are currently absconding, and efforts are underway to trace their whereabouts, police said.