Odisha’s SI recruitment scam case has taken a big turn. The CBI has made its first arrest, catching the man believed to be the main mastermind, Biranchi Nayak.
This is an important update for all students and job seekers who were preparing for the Odisha Police SI exam and were shocked when the exam was cancelled.
Who is Biranchi Nayak?
Biranchi (Biranchi Kumar / Narayan Nayak, around 43 years old) is from the Kalarahanga area near Patia in Bhubaneswar.
He is accused of working as a middleman in the SI recruitment scam and is believed to be a close associate of main planner Shankar Prusty, who was already under investigation.
What Was the Odisha SI Recruitment Scam?
Odisha Police Recruitment Board had announced a big recruitment drive for 933 posts, including Police Sub-Inspectors, Armed SIs, Fire Station Officers and Assistant Jailors, under the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024.
Just a few days before the written exam dates (5 and 6 October 2024), the entire recruitment process was cancelled after serious complaints of paper leak, cheating networks and bribe deals came to light.
How Was the Scam Running?
According to reports, Biranchi and his network allegedly promised question papers to candidates in exchange for huge amounts of money, between ₹15–25 lakh per person.
He and other middlemen reportedly took aspirants to places like Digha and Sundarban in West Bengal, where the so-called “Digha module” was operating to train, brief and fix deals with candidates before the exam.
How Did CBI Catch Him?
Earlier, the case was handled by the Odisha Crime Branch, which had already arrested more than 10–12 people, including some middlemen and candidates.
Later, the investigation was given to the CBI, and during questioning of key accused like Arabinda Das and others, Biranchi’s name came up as the person controlling the Digha network; he was finally picked up from Paralakhemundi and brought to Bhubaneswar, then formally arrested and taken on remand for detailed interrogation.
Why This Arrest Matters for Aspirants
This is the first arrest by the central agency after it took over the case, which means the probe is now moving towards the core of the scam.
CBI is also examining links between private IT firms involved in conducting the exam and any officials of the Odisha Police Recruitment Board, and more arrests or re-exam decisions may follow, which is very important news for all genuine candidates waiting for a fair recruitment.
What Should SI Aspirants Do Now?
- Keep all your documents (application, admit card, payment proof) safely with you.
- Continue your preparation instead of losing hope, because once the investigation is complete, the government will have to conduct a fresh, more secure exam.
- Follow only official updates from Odisha Police, OPRB and reliable news, not random rumours on social media.
This arrest gives a strong message that cheating and corruption in recruitment will not be tolerated. Honest candidates of Odisha deserve a clean SI exam, and this step is an important move in that direction
