The Odisha Crime Branch has arrested Shankar Prusty, the alleged mastermind behind the ₹1,000 crore Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam, from Uttarakhand after weeks on the run.
Prusty has alleged that he possesses “incontrovertible evidence” of a larger conspiracy involving influential individuals in the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) administration.
“I Have Evidence, Will Hand It Over to the Government”
After being apprehended at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar, Prusty told the media while being escorted by Crime Branch officers:
“I have evidence against those who conspired to cancel the SI recruitment exam. I will hand it over to the state government at the right time.”
He added that he was not absconding but was “fighting legally” and had already filed anticipatory bail petitions before both the Orissa High Court and the Supreme Court.
Arrested While Attempting to Flee to Nepal
According to Crime Branch sources, Prusty had first travelled to Delhi, then Uttarakhand, and was attempting to escape to Nepal to evade arrest.
Investigators allege that he took the help of a monk to cross the Indo-Nepal border in a private vehicle and had been staying at a low-profile homestay in Nepal for several days.
“He maintained an extremely low profile, rarely stepping out,” a Crime Branch source revealed.
The team learned that Prusty was about to send a signed anticipatory bail petition to his lawyer in Delhi via bus from the border area when he was intercepted and arrested following a swift operation.
₹1,000 Crore Recruitment Scam Involving Tech Contractors
Prusty heads Panchasoft Technologies, one of the firms subcontracted to handle technical operations for the Odisha Police Recruitment Board’s (OPRB) SI examination.
The primary contract was awarded to ITI Limited, a Central PSU based in Kolkata, which then subcontracted portions of the work to Silicon Techlab (Bhubaneswar) and Panchasoft.
Investigators allege that data manipulation, tampering, and large-scale irregularities occurred within this subcontracting chain, resulting in a scam estimated to be worth over ₹1,000 crore.
Crime Branch Seizes Electronic Devices, Documents
Following the arrest, officers seized a SUV, two iPhones, another mobile phone, and several crucial documents from Prusty’s possession.
Sources said multiple suspects are being interrogated face-to-face to map the entire syndicate structure and determine the roles of different participants in the fraud network.
Political Fallout and Demand for Wider Probe
The revelations have triggered a political storm in Odisha.
Opposition parties have accused the BJD government of shielding influential individuals allegedly involved in the recruitment irregularities.
Meanwhile, Prusty has publicly claimed that several senior officials and political leaders were complicit in the conspiracy — and that he intends to produce evidence to prove their involvement.
The state government has handed over the investigation to a special team of the Crime Branch, while maintaining that it is open to a CBI probe if required.
The Odisha SI Recruitment Scam has raised serious questions about the integrity of the state’s recruitment system and the transparency of outsourced examination processes.
The alleged ₹1,000 crore racket highlights how corruption can proliferate through multi-tier subcontracting and technical outsourcing, blurring accountability.
As the Crime Branch continues its investigation and the judiciary takes cognizance, the case is expected to test not only the robustness of Odisha’s administrative system but also the political will to ensure justice and institutional reform.
