How Did the Crime Branch Uncover the OTET-2025 Question Paper Leak?
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Synopsis
The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has made headlines by exposing a significant question paper leak connected to the Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) - 2025. With the arrest of six individuals, including a board employee, the investigation has unveiled a wide-reaching network exploiting desperate teachers.
Key Takeaways
- Crime Branch dismantled a question paper leak racket.
- Six individuals, including a BSE employee, were arrested.
- The OTET-2025 exam was postponed due to the leak.
- Investigation revealed financial exploitation of desperate teachers.
- Authorities seized electronic devices and leaked papers.
Bhubaneswar, July 30 (NationPress) The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has successfully dismantled a network responsible for the leakage of question papers pertaining to the Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) - 2025 examination, overseen by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha. This operation resulted in the apprehension of six individuals, including an employee from the board, according to DGP (Crime Branch) Vinaytosh Mishra.
The examination, which was originally set for July 20, 2025, was postponed by BSE, Odisha following the discovery of the leaked question papers.
Acting on a complaint filed by Bulbul Behera, OAS(SB) I/C- Establishment Officer at BSE on July 20, the Crime Branch established a special team and initiated an investigation after registering a case (6/2025).
“On July 19, around 10:45 p.m., the Vice President of BSE, Cuttack, identified that handwritten question papers with answers for SOTET-2025, which were identical to the actual question sets prepared by BSE, Cuttack, had gone viral on Facebook and other social media platforms. Consequently, the Special OTET-2025 Examination was postponed,” Mishra stated.
The arrested individuals include Jitan Moharana, Bijay Kumar Mishra, Sanatan Bisoi, Ramjee Prasad Gupta, Ajay Sahoo, and Jayant Rout. The Crime Branch DG disclosed that Moharana, who serves as a Data Entry Operator in the BSE, Cuttack office, is the mastermind behind the racket that leaked the question paper.
Moharana illicitly accessed the laptop of the Vice President of BSE and obtained the question papers before the examination, distributing them to the Working President of the State Ex-Cadre Teacher Association, Bijaya Mishra, and Sanatana Bisoi, President of the Ex-Cadre Teachers Association of Koraput District.
Sources from the Crime Branch revealed that the culprits lured desperate teachers who had previously failed the Special OTET examination, selling them the illicit papers through brokers Ramjee Prasad Gupta from Cuttack district, Ajay Sahoo from Ganjam district, and Jayant Rout from Balasore district.
They extorted money from desperate teachers seeking to pass the exam to secure benefits such as job regularization and pay raises. Preliminary investigations into financial transactions have indicated that Moharana received Rs 2,50,000 via phone pay during the reported timeframe.
The police also revealed that this racket had been active across various districts, selling question papers for substantial sums. The Crime Branch has confiscated electronic devices, including mobile phones from the accused, along with the leaked question papers.
Point of View
NationPress
31/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What led to the postponement of the OTET-2025 exam?
The OTET-2025 exam was postponed due to the leakage of question papers, which were circulated on social media.
How many individuals were arrested in connection with the question paper leak?
Six individuals were arrested, including a Data Entry Operator from the Board of Secondary Education.
What actions were taken by the Crime Branch?
The Crime Branch formed a special team and registered a case, leading to the arrests and seizure of electronic devices.
What was the financial aspect of the racket?
The accused were found to have collected large sums of money from teachers desperate to pass the examination.
What measures can be taken to prevent such incidents in the future?
Enhancing security protocols and conducting thorough audits of examination processes could help prevent future leaks.
