The Odisha Crime Branch has taken data entry operator Jitan Maharana and teacher Bijay Mishra, two prime suspects in the OTET 2025 question paper leak case, on a two-day remand to probe deeper into one of the state’s most serious exam breaches.
Officials said the duo will face intense interrogation to trace financial transactions linked to the leak. Bank records are under scrutiny, and cash payment trails are being investigated. Authorities may also conduct a face-to-face interrogation between the accused and Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, Vice-President of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), already in custody, to reconcile contradictory statements.
With these remands, the arrest tally in the case has risen to eight, including BSE Vice-President Mohanty and Prashant Khamari, suspended headmaster of Vejipada Upper Primary School. Investigators suspect a well-organised network involving board insiders and outside collaborators, with the total number of beneficiaries yet to be determined.
The scandal erupted when the OTET 2025 question paper surfaced online before the scheduled exam, prompting outrage from thousands of teaching aspirants. The government cancelled the exam, promising a re-test with heightened security.
The School and Mass Education Department has warned of suspensions or dismissals for any guilty officials and is considering end-to-end encrypted question paper distribution and surprise staff rotations before major exams. Parents have demanded a speedy re-exam and stronger safeguards to prevent future breaches.
