Bhubaneswar, Aug 3: In a sensational development, Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, Vice-President of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), has been arrested in connection with the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) question paper leak case.

The arrest comes after concrete evidence emerged linking the leaked question paper to Mohanty’s personal laptop.

The scandal has rocked the state’s education system. Investigators revealed that the leaked question paper was traced back to Mohanty’s device, prompting a series of inquiries into his role and connections.

Mohanty, who has long held sway over the board office, has faced multiple allegations of corruption and misconduct over the years. In 2024, the Election Commission had recommended his transfer due to rising concerns over his influence and alleged irregularities.

Further scrutiny has revealed that Mohanty’s associates were allegedly involved in managing the board’s official website, which has also been under suspicion for data manipulation. The secondary results website, IndiaResult.com, operated by Charu Mindworks (India) Private Limited, is now under the scanner. Mamata Gupta, a senior executive at Charu Mindworks, is being investigated for possible links to Mohanty’s family.

Authorities are now expanding the investigation to uncover the full extent of the malpractice. With Mohanty’s arrest, the probe is expected to delve deeper into the network of individuals and organisations possibly involved in the leak and other irregularities.

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