Odisha SI exam paper leak: ED raids 12 premises, uncovers organised network
Synopsis
The ED has cracked open what it calls an 'organised' paper leak in Odisha's SI Recruitment Exam-2024 — with candidates allegedly paying up to ₹30 lakh each for question papers, corporate shell layers obscuring accountability, and a share purchase deal that was reportedly never filed with the Registrar of Companies. The probe now points beyond the original accused to entities linked directly to the OPRB.
Key Takeaways
The ED raided 12 premises across Odisha and West Bengal between 9–12 October 2026 under the PMLA, 2002 .
Candidates were allegedly charged ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh each for leaked SI Recruitment Exam-2024 papers.
Silicon Techlab Private Limited (STPL) director Suresh Chandra Nayak allegedly sublet sensitive exam data to Panchsoft Technology without authorisation.
PSIL International Limited directors Sameer Rath and Saswati Mishra allegedly acquired a controlling stake in STPL via an agreement never filed with the Registrar of Companies .
The case originated after Odisha Police intercepted three buses carrying 114 candidates near Ichhapuram on 30 September 2025 ; the CBI later took over.
The ED says entities linked to the OPRB may also be implicated; further searches and action are expected.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhubaneswar Zonal Office, has raided 12 premises across Odisha and West Bengal between 9 and 12 October 2026, exposing an organised network behind the leakage of the Sub Inspector (SI) Recruitment Exam-2024 question paper. The agency seized incriminating documents, electronic devices, and financial records under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
How the Racket Was Structured
The Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) had originally assigned the examination to Central PSU ITI Limited, which in turn outsourced the work to Bhubaneswar-based Silicon Techlab Private Limited (STPL). According to the ED, STPL's director Suresh Chandra Nayak allegedly sublet the handling of sensitive candidate data to Panchsoft Technology Private Limited — without written authorisation from ITI Limited — in alleged connivance with Panchsoft's director Sankar Prusty.
'Subsequently, the persons linked with Silicon Techlab and Sankar Prusty approached the candidates and lured them with the promise of providing the confidential information of the exam paper in place of money and mobilised them,' the ED stated. Candidates were allegedly charged between ₹15 lakh and ₹30 lakh each for access to the leaked papers.
The Corporate Trail: PSIL International's Role
The ED's investigation surfaced a deeper corporate layer. PSIL International Limited (formerly Patnaik Steel International Limited) and its directors, Sameer Rath and his wife Saswati Mishra, reportedly acquired a majority stake in STPL through a purported share purchase agreement dated 5 August 2023. Critically, according to the ED, this agreement was never submitted before the Registrar of Companies by either firm.
Despite acquiring controlling interest and management authority over STPL, Rath and Mishra allegedly allowed Nayak to continue as director and correspond with ITI Limited on the exam — without authorisation. The agency found that even after learning of Nayak's unauthorised handling of the examination papers, neither Rath nor Mishra alerted ITI Limited.
Origin of the Case: Buses Intercepted in September 2025
The case traces back to 30 September 2025, when Odisha Police intercepted three buses carrying 114 SI recruitment candidates near Ichhapuram. An FIR was registered, and the case was subsequently transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The SI Recruitment Exam had been scheduled for 5–6 October 2025.
Pre-exam financial transactions between the accused parties — specifically between Prusty and STPL — were also uncovered, which the ED says points to premeditated connivance ahead of the examination cycle.
What the ED Says Now
'Investigations and searches conducted so far have unearthed the role of companies/entities which have so far remained outside the investigative net of agencies. Further, searches have also revealed the possible role of other persons, including those associated with OPRB and other companies/entities. Such entities are intricately linked with the entire examination cycle,' the agency stated.
The ED concluded that the question paper was 'leaked in an organised manner, generating substantial proceeds of crime through cash collected from candidates.' Seized materials remain under further examination, and additional arrests or searches are widely anticipated as the probe widens.
Point of View
An unvetted private chain handles question papers, and the breakdown is exploited for cash. What sets this case apart is the corporate obfuscation — a share purchase agreement allegedly never registered, a director operating without authorisation, and a controlling stakeholder who reportedly looked the other way. The probe's expansion toward OPRB-linked entities raises the uncomfortable question of whether institutional negligence shaded into complicity. India's recruitment exam integrity crisis — visible from NEET to state police exams — demands systemic reform in vendor vetting, not just criminal prosecution after the fact.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Odisha SI Recruitment Exam-2024 paper leak case?
It is a case involving the organised leakage of the Sub Inspector Recruitment Exam-2024 question paper in Odisha, where candidates were allegedly charged ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh each for access to leaked papers. The case was first registered by Odisha Police after three buses carrying 114 candidates were intercepted near Ichhapuram on 30 September 2025, and was later taken over by the CBI.
Which companies and individuals has the ED targeted in its raids?
The ED searched premises linked to Silicon Techlab Private Limited (STPL) and its director Suresh Chandra Nayak, Panchsoft Technology Private Limited and its director Sankar Prusty, and PSIL International Limited along with its directors Sameer Rath and Saswati Mishra. All are accused of roles in the paper leak and related money laundering.
How was the question paper allegedly leaked?
According to the ED, STPL was assigned examination work by ITI Limited but allegedly sublet sensitive candidate data handling to Panchsoft Technology without authorisation. Persons linked to both firms then allegedly approached candidates and offered leaked exam papers in exchange for cash payments of ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh per candidate.
What is the significance of the PSIL International share purchase deal?
The ED found that PSIL International Limited and its directors acquired a majority stake in STPL through an agreement dated 5 August 2023, but this agreement was allegedly never filed with the Registrar of Companies. Despite holding controlling interest, PSIL's directors reportedly allowed Nayak to continue handling examination work without authorisation and did not alert ITI Limited.
What happens next in the investigation?
The ED has stated that further examination of seized documents and devices is ongoing. The agency has indicated that additional entities — including those linked to the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB) — may be implicated, and further searches and legal action are anticipated as the probe widens.
