Bhubaneswar, Oct 16: In a major breakthrough in the alleged Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam, the Crime Branch arrested Muna Mohanty, a key middleman allegedly involved in orchestrating fraudulent activities, police sources said on Thursday.

Mohanty was picked up from a farmhouse in Dasapalla of Nayagarh district following a tip-off and brought to the Crime Branch office in Cuttack for interrogation.

Sources within the Crime Branch revealed that Mohanty, a resident of Banki in Cuttack district, played a crucial role in facilitating illegal recruitment through bribery and manipulation of exam procedures. A special investigation team is currently questioning him to uncover the broader network behind the multi-crore scam.

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The SI recruitment scam, which rocked the state, involved around 130 accused, including aspirants, middlemen and government officials. Mohanty had been absconding for weeks before being tracked down. His arrest is expected to shed light on the involvement of other key players, including alleged mastermind Shankar Prusty, who is reportedly abroad.

As senior official from the Crime Branch said that the investigation will continue with full transparency and accountability, aiming to restore public trust in the recruitment process.