By Sunil Jena, Editor-in-Chief | The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar: The political storm around the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector recruitment scandal intensifies, now drawing direct attention to the Chief Minister’s Office. The recruitment examination, which was scheduled for October 5 and 6, aimed to fill 933 positions, including SI posts, with over 1.53 lakh candidates expected to appear. But even before the exams could begin, allegations of a massive ₹200-crore scam have come to light.
According to reports, deals worth nearly ₹25 lakh per candidate were allegedly made to secure success in the exam. Sources claim that V.K. Pandian had prior information about the scam and subsequently alerted the Andhra Pradesh Police. Acting on the tip, the Andhra Police intercepted several suspects near the Andhra-Odisha border. Following the operation, 117 individuals were arrested and handed over to the Odisha Police for further investigation.
Adding to the controversy, reports suggest that one of Chief Minister Mohan Majhi’s security personnel may also be linked to the case, further tightening the political pressure around the CM’s office.
In response, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal addressed the media and indirectly held Chief Minister Mohan Majhi responsible for ensuring accountability within his administration. However, defending the party, Samal said, “If we were involved in corruption, would these people have been caught? The truth is, V.K. Pandian himself exposed the SI exam scam happening in Odisha.”
The unfolding situation has triggered intense political debate in the state, as both the BJP and the BJD attempt to control the narrative. While BJD blames the BJP government for administrative failure, the BJP leadership insists that the exposure of the scam itself proves their commitment to transparency and law enforcement.
