LI Network
Published on: 04 September 2023 at 13:18 IST
In response to a series of petitions, the Odisha High Court has taken a significant step by ordering a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation into the alleged question paper leak during a recruitment examination administered by the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC).
The matter was brought before a bench presided over by Justice AK Mohapatra, who expressed deep concern over the candidates’ plight.
These candidates had appeared for the recruitment examination for the position of junior engineer (civil) and were allegedly victims of a widespread racket operating beyond the borders of Odisha.
Recognizing the scale and complexity of the case, the court has entrusted the investigation to the CID unit of the state police’s crime branch.
The OSSC had taken the extraordinary step of canceling the main examination after law enforcement confirmed the leak of the question paper. This examination was originally scheduled for July 16.
In connection with the case, law enforcement authorities have taken into custody over 25 individuals, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
To address the issue promptly and ensure the integrity of the recruitment process, a fresh main written examination was conducted on a subsequent date.
Initially, the case was under the purview of the Sahadevkhunta police station, but the involvement of the CID is expected to bring a more specialized and comprehensive approach to the investigation.