Bhubaneswar, Aug 13: The investigation into the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) question paper leak casehas taken a dramatic turn as prime accused Jitan Maharana, currently in two-day remand, has revealed critical details about the alleged racket, officials said on Wednesday.

According to Crime Branch sources, Jitan admitted to extracting the question paper from the laptop of Board of Secondary Education Vice President Nihar Mahanti and sending it via pen drive and hard copy to Nayagarh, where it was received by teacher leader Vijay Mishra.

Jitan confessed that he hired a driver for Rs1,500 to deliver the materials to Mishra, who later transferred Rs2.4 lakh to Jitan. Mishra’s relatives are also suspected to be involved in the racket. Investigators believe this leak was not an isolated incident, as Jitan had allegedly played a role in previous irregularities at the Board office.

The Crime Branch has interrogated multiple individuals, including a female data entry operator, Jitan’s hired driver, Board Vice President Nihar Mahanti, and Vijay Mishra’s relatives. Sources said that more arrests may follow, and plans are underway to bring additional suspects into remand for further questioning.

The case has exposed deep-rooted corruption within the examination system, with the Crime Branch now probing earlier leaks and irregularities linked to the Board. The involvement of senior officials has raised serious concerns about the integrity of recruitment exams in the state.

So far, eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the OTET paper leak. Legal experts and educationists have called for stringent action and systemic reforms to prevent such breaches in the future.

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