Bhubaneswar, Aug 4: The Odisha Crime Branch has intensified its investigation into the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) 2025 question paper leak, arresting eight individuals including Board of Secondary Education (BSE) Vice-President Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, officials said on Monday.

The scandal, which first surfaced in 2022 in Malkangiri, has now exposed a complex syndicate involving senior officials, data entry operators, and alleged financial irregularities.

Mohanty, who was entrusted with overseeing the printing and security of the OTET question papers, is accused of failing to delete the password-protected file after proofreading, allowing unauthorized access to his laptop. Investigators revealed that he had frequent off-hours communication with Jiten Maharana, a data entry operator who allegedly played a central role in the leak. A female data entry operator is also under scrutiny for her suspected involvement.

The leaked paper, which went viral ahead of the July 20 exam, led to the abrupt cancellation of the Special OTET-2025, affecting over 75,000 candidates. The printing of the question paper at a Bhopal-based press has raised further questions about procedural lapses and accountability.

Crime Branch Director General Binaytosh Mishra confirmed that a diary detailing benami transactions and Rs2.4 lakh transferred to Maharana’s account were recovered during raids. Allegations have also surfaced regarding favoritism in the selection of question setters, with links to relatives of board officials.

Senior educationists and journalists have criticized the previous BJD government for allegedly attempting to suppress the scandal. The probe now includes financial trails, syndicate operations, and possible misuse of authority within the BSE office.

The investigation continues, with more arrests likely as the Crime Branch digs deeper into the leak’s origins and its broader implications for Odisha’s education system.

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