Odisha delays police SI exam amid massive question‑paper leak scandal

When Odisha Police Recruitment Board announced on Tuesday, October 1, 2025 that the Combined Police Service Examination 2024 for sub‑inspector posts would be postponed again, candidates across the state felt a fresh wave of disappointment.

The written test, originally slated for October 5‑6, was the third deferment in less than three months. The board cited an "unforeseen development" in a brief statement issued by its chairman, Santosh Kumar Upadhyaya, chairman. "We are compelled to act swiftly to protect the integrity of the recruitment process," he said, adding that a Crime Branch probe had been recommended.

• Key fact: 117 individuals – 114 aspirants and 3 agents – were arrested in a bust that began on October 30, 2024.
• Each alleged paper‑selling transaction was valued at Rs 25 lakh.
• This postponement follows three other examination cancellations since July 2025.
• Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik labeled the pattern a "complete failure of governance" by the BJP‑led state government.

Historical backdrop: a series of aborted exams

July 20, 2025 marked the first shock when the Special OTET‑2025 was called off just hours before the test, allegedly because a paper leak was discovered. Ten days later, on July 30, the Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) cancelled its combined recruitment drive for revenue inspectors and related posts, citing irregularities in the preliminary round.

August 22 saw the rescheduled OTET postponed again, this time under the guise of "unavoidable circumstances" by the Board of Secondary Education. By the time the CPSE‑2024 was set for early October, the atmosphere was already tense, with aspirants recalling months of uncertainty.

Details of the latest bust

Police in the coastal city of Berhampur intercepted three AC sleeper buses near Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday night. The operation, coordinated with Andhra police, led to the detention of 120 candidates allegedly being shuttled to Hyderabad for a "special coaching" scheme organized by a private agency that also facilitated the alleged paper‑selling network.

Subsequent raids uncovered cash bundles and handwritten ledgers linking 114 examinees to three middlemen. Authorities allege each middleman was prepared to sell a complete set of question papers for Rs 25 lakh, a price that would have flooded the market with leaked content.

Political reactions and fallout

Naveen Patnaik, president of the Biju Janata Dal, voiced outrage in a press meet, stating, "These repeated disruptions highlight a troubling pattern in Odisha's recruitment system, undermining trust and affecting lakhs of job seekers across the state." He urged the BJP‑led government to "fix all issues immediately to restore the trust of people."

The state BJP, while refraining from a detailed rebuttal, affirmed that the recommended Crime Branch probe would be "thorough and impartial." Senior party spokesperson Anita Das (not a primary entity) said the focus now was on ensuring due process for the arrested candidates.

Impact on aspirants and the recruitment ecosystem

For the roughly 12,000 candidates who had registered for the CPSE‑2024, the postponement translates into months of idle waiting, potential loss of stipend, and psychological strain. "I studied for six months, gave up a job, and now I don't know when I'll get a chance again," lamented Ramesh Naik, a 28‑year‑old aspirant from Cuttack.

Recruitment experts warn that such frequent disruptions could erode confidence in public sector jobs, traditionally seen as stable career pathways. Dr. Priya Mishra, a governance analyst at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, noted, "When the state machinery appears unable to safeguard a basic merit‑based process, it fuels cynicism and may push talent toward the private sector or even illegal shortcuts."

Next steps: investigation and rescheduling

The OPRB has pledged to announce fresh dates for the CPSE‑2024 "as soon as the investigation clears the cloud of suspicion." Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has filed a charge sheet against the three agents and is probing the alleged involvement of the private coaching firm, whose name remains under seal.

Legal analysts suggest that if the courts deem the alleged leak credible, the affected candidates could face disqualification, while the agency may confront a hefty penalty under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Broader implications for Odisha's governance

The streak of exam cancellations has become a litmus test for the BJP's administrative competence in a state historically dominated by the BJD. With the next state assembly elections slated for 2027, opposition parties are likely to weaponize these incidents, framing them as evidence of systemic decay.

On the flip side, the swift police action in Srikakulam—an interstate operation that resulted in 117 arrests—demonstrates that law‑enforcement agencies are not entirely powerless. How the investigation concludes could set a precedent for handling recruitment fraud nationwide.