The Odisha Crime Branch has intensified its investigation into alleged errors in government school textbooks by conducting searches at the offices of the Odisha Textbook Production and Marketing (OTPM) and the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) in Bhubaneswar.
As part of the ongoing probe, Crime Branch officials scrutinised documents related to textbook printing, production, and tender procedures. Investigators seized key records, including tender documents, correspondence from the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), and the original PDF files used for printing. The digital files are now being compared with the printed textbooks to determine how the errors occurred.
Speaking briefly to reporters, Crime Branch DSP Narendra Behera confirmed that the investigation is focused on the production and printing process.
“We have seized all the documents related to production and printing and recorded the statements of the concerned staff. The details of the documents cannot be disclosed at this stage,” he said.
OTPM Director Attributes Errors to Tight Production Timeline
OTPM Director Sambit Kumar Nayak acknowledged that mistakes may have occurred due to the limited time available to produce the revised textbooks.
He said the books were developed in accordance with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) guidelines, but the compressed timeline affected the production process.
According to Nayak, nearly 52% of the textbooks had been delivered before April 1, and the discrepancies came to light only after the books reached schools.
He further explained that OTPM’s responsibility was limited to printing the textbooks using the hard and soft copies supplied by OSEPA.
“If the revised textbooks had been introduced from the next academic session instead of the current one, there would have been sufficient time for quality checks and such procedural errors could have been avoided,” Nayak said.
He also described the textbook preparation process, stating that multiple experts work together on individual textbooks before the final manuscripts are sent for printing.
Crime Branch Examines Printing and Distribution Process
Investigators also questioned OSEPA officials regarding the number of textbooks printed for Classes I to VIII, subject-wise distribution, and payments made for printing.
The Crime Branch is examining whether established procedures were followed during the preparation, review, approval, and printing of the textbooks. The investigation aims to identify the source of the errors and determine accountability among the officials involved.
The probe comes amid growing concerns over mistakes found in government school textbooks, with the Crime Branch already expanding its investigation into the preparation and publication process.
