The controversy over massive errors in Odisha school textbooks has taken a serious turn with the Crime Branch launching a detailed investigation into the matter.
Acting on the directive of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a five‑member team led by DSP Narendra Behera visited the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) office on Friday and began scrutiny of the textbook preparation and publication process.
Sources said the team interrogated Deputy Director Itishree Nayak regarding the compilation and approval procedures. The probe follows the arrest of former SCERT Director Manoj Padhy earlier this week.
The state government has admitted that 1,678 errors were detected in textbooks from Class I to VIII, including grammatical, factual, historical, and geographical inaccuracies. OSEPA had earlier circulated a 122‑page correction list to district education officers for teachers’ reference, but even that list reportedly contained multiple mistakes.
The textbooks were prepared under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and preliminary findings suggest a financial loss of around ₹175 crore to the state exchequer due to faulty printing and distribution.
Officials said the Crime Branch is examining digital records, correspondence, and procurement documents to identify accountability and lapses in the process.
