Odisha Police Recruitment Process Halted Amid Alleged Conspiracy: What’s Next?
Recruitment Process for Sub-Inspectors on Hold
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) has announced a pause in the recruitment process for sub-inspectors until the conclusion of an investigation by the crime branch into alleged conspiratorial activities.
Originally, the written exams for the combined police service exams (CPSE) 2024, aimed at filling 933 sub-inspector positions, were set for October 5 and 6. However, these were postponed on September 30 after police apprehended several individuals, including 114 candidates, near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border.
An official statement from OPRB reassured candidates that the recruitment process would resume promptly following the investigation's completion.
The board, led by senior IPS officer S K Nath, suspects a 'deliberate conspiracy' aimed at disrupting the recruitment efforts of the Odisha government, as indicated by the arrest of approximately 119 individuals, including the aspiring candidates.
Authorities detained the candidates while they were being transported in three buses to an undisclosed location in Andhra Pradesh, where they were allegedly set to receive exam papers before the scheduled tests.
A senior official noted that the conspirators appeared to be attempting to stall or delay recruitment processes managed by various agencies.
In this recruitment initiative, OPRB collaborated with multiple agencies. Following the announcement of the 933 SI positions in January, OPRB contracted ITI Limited, a central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), to oversee the examination process.
However, ITI Limited subcontracted the task to Silicon Limited, a private firm based in Bhubaneswar, which in turn engaged Panchsoft Limited from Berhampur.
The OPRB was not informed about the involvement of Panchsoft in the process, raising concerns about the integrity of the recruitment.
Recently, OPRB issued a notice to ITI Limited for allegedly not meeting its contractual obligations.
According to the original agreement, ITI Limited was responsible for all major tasks, including question paper preparation and printing.
If ITI outsourced any part of this work, it was still accountable for oversight and supervision, including any further subcontracting to firms like Silicon Limited or Panchsoft.
Following the arrests linked to the alleged recruitment sabotage, the crime branch is investigating the manpower supplier, with Panchsoft's director, Shankar Prusty, identified as a key suspect.
When questioned about why OPRB did not conduct the examination directly, an official explained that OPRB is a small organization with limited personnel, necessitating the engagement of ITI Limited for its expertise.
The OPRB emphasized the importance of identifying the true conspirators behind this incident, stating that their actions not only undermined the examination process but also threatened the recruitment efforts in Odisha, betraying the aspirations of the state's educated youth.