Bhubaneswar, Dec 29: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam, filing a primary chargesheet against 16 accused individuals.

The chargesheet, backed by documentary evidence, marks a significant step in uncovering the layers of corruption surrounding the examination process.

Among those named in the chargesheet are Shankar Prusti, Muna Mahanti, Suresh Nayak, Soumya Priyadarshini Samal, Rinku Moharana, Biranchi Nayak, and Nitish Kumar. Investigators confirmed that nine of the accused were arrested earlier by the Crime Branch, while seven others were apprehended directly by the CBI.

The investigation has revealed interstate links, with raids conducted in Bihar and Gujarat. Following the arrest of Nitish Kumar in Bihar, CBI traced connections to a Gujarat-based couple allegedly running a fraudulent company involved in job scams. Acting on this lead, the agency arrested Nitu Arora from Vadodara. The company, registered in her husband’s name, reportedly employed several individuals and is suspected of playing a role in orchestrating recruitment frauds beyond Odisha.

According to officials, the couple’s involvement in the SI exam scam is being closely examined, including their ties with middlemen already arrested. The CBI is probing whether they were part of a larger network engaged in multiple recruitment scams across states.

With the investigation ongoing, the CBI is expected to widen its net to identify more individuals and entities linked to the scam.

This development underscores the seriousness of the case, which has shaken public trust in recruitment processes and raised questions about the integrity of examinations meant to select law enforcement officers.