Bhubaneswar, Jul 11: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday directed a criminal investigation into the textbook errors found across classes I to VIII, marking a significant escalation in the state’s response to the controversy.

The Chief Minister instructed the Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to file an FIR with the Crime Branch SP, ensuring accountability for lapses in the textbook preparation process.

#Bhubaneswar | Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered a criminal investigation into the entire textbook preparation process.

He has also directed the SCERT Director to lodge an FIR with the Crime Branch SP. #Odisha #SCERT #CrimeBranch #Education pic.twitter.com/AvgCCZx28l

— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) July 11, 2026

Earlier, CM Majhi constituted a committee under the Development Commissioner to probe the issue. Based on its report, the government suspended the former SCERT Director along with three Assistant Directors, while disciplinary proceedings were initiated against six other officials.

Officials said the decision to involve the Crime Branch reflects the government’s intent to treat the matter with utmost seriousness, given its direct impact on schoolchildren’s education. The investigation is expected to examine the entire process of textbook preparation, approval, and distribution.
Also Read: Odisha Govt to Supply Corrected Textbooks to Schools

The Chief Minister’s office emphasised that the lapses were unacceptable and corrective measures must be taken. The move comes amid growing criticism from parents, teachers, and educationists over errors in school textbooks.

The Odisha government has already ordered a complete revision of 55 textbooks for Classes I to VIII after identifying 1,678 factual and printing errors in the newly prepared editions for the 2026–27 academic session. The mistakes, ranging from spelling slips to serious historical and geographical inaccuracies, have prompted the administration to promise swift corrective action and ensure such lapses do not recur.