Berhampur Nov 17: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrived in Berhampur today to investigate the much-discussed Police Sub Inspector (SI) Recruitment Examination scam.

The investigation was initiated after the central government authorized the CBI to take over the case, following a request by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The Crime Branch has already handed over the First Information Report (FIR) to the CBI, and will soon provide all key documents related to the investigation. The CBI team has been formed under the leadership of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), with Additional SP B. Samal of the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) leading the probe.

The CBI team is expected to seek the remand of the accused in court. They will be investigating the case from the beginning and may interrogate the police officers who were handling the investigation prior to their involvement. The CBI could request remand for a total of seven individuals, including Silicon Tech Lab CEO Suresh Nayak, mastermind Shankar Prusti, and another co-accused, Muna Mohanty.

In total, 123 individuals have been arrested in connection with the scam, including Shankar Prusti and Muna Mohanty. It is alleged that a transaction worth Rs 1,000 crore took place as part of this scam.

On September 30, the Berhampur police had announced the dismantling of a question paper leak racket after officials intercepted three air-conditioned buses carrying 117 people near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. Since then, 121 people, including 114 candidates, have been arrested in connection with the case.