ED raids 10 locations in Odisha, Bengal over SI exam paper leak scam
Synopsis
The ED has raided 10 locations across Odisha and West Bengal in a sprawling SI recruitment scam where candidates allegedly paid up to ₹30 lakh each for leaked question papers. With the alleged mastermind already arrested near the Nepal border and two exam-conducting firms now under the scanner, the probe has escalated into a full-blown money-laundering investigation.
Key Takeaways
The ED, Bhubaneswar Zone , raided 10 premises in Odisha and West Bengal on 9 October 2026 .
The raids target alleged prime accused Shankar Prusty and associates linked to the Odisha Police SI Recruitment Exam-2024 paper leak.
On 30 September 2025 , police intercepted 114 candidates near Ichhapuram who had allegedly paid between ₹15 lakh and ₹30 lakh each for the leaked paper.
Firms M/s Silicon Techlab Private Limited and M/s Panchsoft Technology Private Limited are under scrutiny as entities contracted to conduct the exam.
The case was transferred to the CBI on the recommendation of CM Mohan Charan Majhi ; Shankar Prusty was arrested in Uttarakhand in November 2025 while allegedly attempting to flee to Nepal.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bhubaneswar Zone, on Friday, 9 October 2026, launched simultaneous search operations across ten premises in Odisha and West Bengal in connection with the alleged leak of the question paper for the Odisha Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Recruitment Exam-2024. The raids target properties linked to the alleged prime accused Shankar Prusty and his associates in what investigators have described as a multi-crore SI recruitment scam.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to ED sources, the case originates from an FIR registered by the Odisha Police in October 2025. On 30 September 2025, police intercepted three buses carrying 114 candidates near Ichhapuram, a border town between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The candidates were allegedly in possession of the leaked question paper for the SI Recruitment Exam scheduled for 5 and 6 October 2025, and had reportedly paid between ₹15 lakh and ₹30 lakh per candidate for access to the paper.
Candidates were reportedly approached by associates who offered the question paper in exchange for cash, and their original certificates were taken as a guarantee of payment, according to ED sources.
Firms and Directors Under the Scanner
The ED has identified two private companies as central to the alleged conspiracy: M/s Silicon Techlab Private Limited and M/s Panchsoft Technology Private Limited. Both firms, along with their directors and associated individuals, are being covered during the ongoing searches. Investigators are examining whether the question paper was leaked by persons linked to the entities that were contracted to conduct the examination.
'During the searches, the role of agencies and associate persons are being examined,' ED sources noted.
CBI Takes Over, Mastermind Arrested Near Nepal Border
On the recommendation of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the investigation was transferred from the Odisha Police Crime Branch to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The alleged mastermind, Shankar Prusty — a director of Panchsoft Technologies — was subsequently arrested by Crime Branch sleuths in November 2025 near the Nepal border in Uttarakhand, reportedly while attempting to flee the country.
ED's Role and What Comes Next
The ED's intervention signals that investigators are now probing the money trail behind the scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), building on the CBI's criminal investigation. The multi-agency pressure — involving Odisha Police, CBI, and now the ED — reflects the scale and systemic nature of the alleged fraud. Further arrests and asset attachments are widely expected as the financial investigation progresses.
Point of View
Exposing a structural vulnerability in how competitive recruitments are managed. The ₹15–30 lakh per-candidate price tag, multiplied across 114 intercepted candidates alone, suggests proceeds well into the crores — and those are only the candidates who were caught. The deeper question is whether accountability will extend to the procurement process that awarded these contracts in the first place.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Odisha Police SI exam paper leak case?
The Odisha Police Sub-Inspector Recruitment Exam-2024 paper leak refers to the alleged sale of question papers to candidates for amounts ranging from ₹15 lakh to ₹30 lakh each. The scam came to light on 30 September 2025, when police intercepted 114 candidates near Ichhapuram who reportedly possessed the leaked paper ahead of the exam scheduled for 5–6 October 2025.
Why is the ED conducting raids now?
The ED is investigating the money trail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following the CBI's criminal investigation. The agency is examining the financial transactions of accused persons and the firms contracted to conduct the examination, including M/s Silicon Techlab Private Limited and M/s Panchsoft Technology Private Limited.
Who is Shankar Prusty and what is his role in the scam?
Shankar Prusty is the alleged mastermind of the Odisha SI recruitment scam and a director of Panchsoft Technologies, one of the firms contracted to conduct the exam. He was arrested by the Odisha Police Crime Branch in November 2025 near the Nepal border in Uttarakhand while reportedly trying to flee the country.
Why was the case transferred to the CBI?
The investigation was transferred from the Odisha Police Crime Branch to the CBI on the recommendation of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, reflecting the scale and multi-state dimensions of the alleged fraud.
Which companies are under scrutiny in the ED raids?
M/s Silicon Techlab Private Limited and M/s Panchsoft Technology Private Limited — both entities that were assigned the work of conducting the SI recruitment exam — are under scrutiny, along with their directors and associates.
