ED Widens Odisha SI Exam Paper Leak Probe, Examines Recruitment Board Officials

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The ED is examining the possible involvement of additional OPRB officials and private entities in the alleged Odisha SI examination paper leak.
Investigators are tracing alleged payments from candidates and examining whether the money was used to acquire assets.
The case has been investigated by Odisha Police and the CBI, while the ED is pursuing the alleged money laundering aspects.

Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has widened its money laundering investigation into the alleged leakage of the 2024 Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination paper, focusing on the suspected involvement of certain Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) officials and private entities, according to officials.

The agency is also tracing alleged proceeds of crime generated through cash payments by candidates and examining whether the money was used to acquire assets that could be attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Last week, the ED conducted searches at around 12 locations in Odisha and West Bengal. The premises included those linked to Silicon Techlab Private Limited, Panchsoft Technologies Private Limited and PSIL International Limited, companies associated with the examination process.

The agency said evidence gathered during the searches had revealed possible links involving additional individuals and entities. Their alleged roles are being examined as the investigation progresses.

ED Examines Role of Recruitment Board Officials and Private Firms

According to the ED, the investigation has identified possible links between certain OPRB officials, private companies and different stages of the examination process.

The agency said its findings so far indicated that the alleged question paper leak may have been organised and that substantial amounts of cash were reportedly collected from candidates in exchange for promises of access to confidential examination material.

These are allegations under investigation. The role and responsibility of each individual or organisation will need to be established through the legal process.

The ED is examining whether the alleged cash collections generated proceeds of crime and whether those funds were subsequently used to create assets that could be subject to attachment under the PMLA.

How Were Private Companies Linked to the Examination?

The ED’s statement outlined a chain of contractual arrangements involving the recruitment board, a central public sector undertaking and private technology companies.

According to the agency, the OPRB assigned the examination work to ITI Limited, a central government public sector undertaking. ITI Limited subsequently entrusted the work to Bhubaneswar-based Silicon Techlab Private Limited (STPL).

The ED alleged that STPL director S.C. Nayak engaged Panchsoft Technologies to handle sensitive candidate information without obtaining written permission from ITI Limited.

The agency is also examining the alleged role of Silicon Techlab and individuals linked to Sankar Prusty. It claimed that candidates were approached with promises of access to confidential question papers in exchange for money.

The allegations concern the handling of sensitive examination information and the arrangements made by the companies involved in conducting the recruitment test.

ED Raises Questions Over STPL Ownership and Access to Exam Papers

The agency has also alleged that PSIL International Limited took over a controlling stake and majority shareholding in STPL without informing ITI Limited.

According to the ED, Nayak continued as a director of STPL and accessed examination papers without proper authorisation.

Investigators are examining these corporate arrangements alongside the suspected movement of money and the alleged circulation of confidential examination material.

The findings could help establish how the examination information was handled, whether access controls were bypassed and whether any individuals or companies benefited financially from the alleged leak.

The allegations against the named individuals and companies have not, by themselves, established criminal liability. Any such responsibility must be determined through the applicable legal proceedings.

Case Began After Police Intercepted Buses Carrying Candidates

The money laundering case originated from an Odisha Police FIR registered in September 2025.

According to the case details, police intercepted three buses carrying 114 candidates near Ichchapuram in Andhra Pradesh, close to the Odisha border. The candidates were allegedly being transported after being promised access to a leaked question paper in return for payments ranging from ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh.

The examination was scheduled for October 5 and 6, 2025, according to the reported case details.

The incident triggered a broader investigation into the alleged recruitment examination leak and the arrangements made for candidates seeking access to confidential material.

CBI Also Investigated Examination Irregularities

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also investigated the case. According to the ED, the CBI filed a chargesheet before a court describing alleged irregularities connected with the examination when it was initially scheduled to take place in March 2025.

The examination was subsequently cancelled by the OPRB after irregularities came to light.

The ED’s investigation focuses on the alleged financial dimension of the case, including suspected cash collections, the movement of funds and the identification of assets that may represent proceeds of crime.

The agency’s latest searches indicate that investigators are continuing to examine the roles of people and companies connected to the examination process.

The ED is expected to continue examining documentary evidence, financial transactions, corporate relationships and the handling of examination material.