Berhampur, Oct 29: In a major development in the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination scam, the Special Vigilance Court has granted bail to 114 accused candidates, while rejecting the bail applications of seven alleged middlemen.
According to Additional Public Prosecutor Rajat Kumar Dash, the order was issued by Special Vigilance Judge Gyanendra Kumar Barik after a detailed hearing. A total of 123 individuals are currently lodged in the Berhampur Circle Jail in connection with the case. Out of these, 121- including 114 candidates and 7 middlemen- had applied for bail.
Following the court’s decision, the 114 candidates are expected to be released today, leading to heavy crowds of anxious family members outside the jail premises.
The arrests stem from a police operation on September 29, when the Berhampur Police, acting on a tip-off, intercepted three AC sleeper buses near the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border. Under the supervision of SP Dr. Saravana Vivek M, three special teams reached Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, and detained 117 passengers who were later brought to Berhampur.
Investigations revealed that 114 of the detainees were SI exam applicants, allegedly en route to Vizianagaram to obtain leaked question papers. The candidates had reportedly boarded from Bhubaneswar, planning to collect the leaked papers in Andhra Pradesh and return to sit for the exam.
Sources said each candidate had agreed to pay ₹25 lakh for the leaked papers — ₹10 lakh upfront and the remaining ₹15 lakh after securing the job. The Berhampur Police exposed the racket before the deal could materialize, leading to the large-scale arrests.
The case, considered one of the biggest recruitment scams in Odisha’s recent history, has since been transferred for further investigation.
