114 Odisha SI exam candidates, 3 agents arrested over ₹25 lakh paper leak deal

A Berhampur police team intercepted the three AC sleeper buses near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. The buses had started from Baramunda Bus Stand in Bhubaneswar: Police

Updated on: Oct 1, 2025, 19:47:44 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Bhubaneswar: Police arrested 117 people, including 114 Odisha sub-inspector exam candidates who were allegedly set to pay ₹25 lakh each for leaked question papers, from three sleeper buses near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border.

ccording to police, the candidates had conspired to acquire confidential question papers in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, before returning to Bhubaneswar to appear for the test (Representative photo)

The arrests come just a day after the Odisha Police Recruitment Board postponed the written examination for the third time, citing administrative reasons.

Of those arrested, 114 are candidates who had applied for the exam, while the remaining three are agents accused of facilitating the scheme — a paper leak — a police officer said.

Acting on a tip-off, a Berhampur police team intercepted the three AC sleeper buses near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. The buses, which had started from Baramunda Bus Stand in Bhubaneswar, were carrying 117 passengers. During questioning, it was revealed that 114 of them were candidates for the sub-inspector exam, travelling with the help of three agents linked to a wider network, the officer said.

According to police, the candidates had conspired to acquire confidential question papers in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, before returning to Bhubaneswar to appear for the test. Each candidate had agreed to pay ₹25 lakh — with ₹10 lakh to be paid upfront and the remaining ₹15 lakh after securing the job.

“This was an organised attempt to sabotage the SI examination,” said a senior police official, adding that more agents are suspected to be involved.

An FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, at Golanthara Police Station in the Berhampur police district.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

Bhubaneswar

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.