Shocking Revelations in Odisha Police Recruitment Scam: Arrest of Shankar Prusty
Major Developments in the Recruitment Scam
Bhubaneswar: The recent arrest of Shankar Prusty, who is believed to be the key figure behind the police sub-inspector recruitment scandal, has stirred significant political unrest. During his interrogation, he disclosed that a staggering Rs 1,000 crore deal was allegedly made under the previous administration to facilitate this recruitment fraud.
Upon arriving at Bhubaneswar airport, Shankar addressed the media, stating, “If I hadn’t turned myself in, how would the Rs 1,000 crore deal have come to light? I will present all the evidence related to the conspiracy to annul the exam and the individuals involved to the authorities. I had filed a bail petition with the Orissa High Court and intended to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. The High Court has granted me a month’s time. No charges have been filed against my wife. I trust the legal system and have no ties to any other suspects in this case.”
After his arrival in Odisha, he was taken to the Crime Branch headquarters for questioning. Officials reported that a dedicated team had been tracking Shankar as he frequently changed locations to avoid capture. He was ultimately apprehended near the Nepal border in Uttarakhand and subsequently presented in a local court before being brought to Odisha on a transit remand.
During the interrogation, the Crime Branch confiscated a Fortuner vehicle, three mobile phones, and a passport from Shankar. He faces charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in conjunction with the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act.
Authorities indicated that crucial evidence was gathered through the simultaneous questioning of Shankar and another suspect, Munna Mohanty. Shankar is expected to appear before the Special Vigilance Court in Berhampur on Monday, according to sources.
In the meantime, the BJD has accused the state government of being complicit in the recruitment scandal, asserting that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is the true mastermind behind the scheme. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty claimed, “The real orchestrator is not Shankar Prusty, but the CMO of Odisha, as the state government permitted Punchsoft Technologies to oversee the examination.”
Conversely, the BJP dismissed these claims, suggesting that the BJD is anxious about potential exposure of its connections to the massive scam. State BJP spokesperson Manoj Mohapatra remarked, “The BJD is fearful that their involvement in this scandal will be revealed. This government will ensure that all criminals who operated freely during the BJD's tenure are brought to justice.”
Notably, a total of 123 individuals, including 114 candidates, had previously been arrested in connection with this case. While all candidates have since been released on bail, nine intermediaries remain incarcerated. With Shankar’s arrest, the total number of arrests has now reached 124.