Bhubaneswar: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday staged a massive protest in Bhubaneswar demanding a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors (SIs) in Odisha.
Hundreds of party workers and leaders took out a protest march from Master Canteen Square to Lower PMG, holding banners and placards and raising slogans against the BJP-led state government. The protestors accused the government of shielding influential individuals allegedly involved in the recruitment scam.
Tension flared when the agitators attempted to break police barricades, leading to a brief scuffle between demonstrators and security personnel. Several BJD workers and leaders were subsequently detained by the police.
The agitation follows the Odisha Police Recruitment Board (OPRB)’s decision to postpone the written examination for SI recruitment, which was scheduled for October 5–6, after Berhampur Police arrested several individuals, including 114 aspirants, from the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border on September 30.
According to police sources, the arrested candidates were allegedly heading to an undisclosed location in Andhra Pradesh for “special coaching” ahead of the exam. Each candidate had reportedly agreed to pay ₹25 lakh for securing an SI post—₹10 lakh as advance and the remaining ₹15 lakh after appointment.
BJD leader Pritiranjan Gharai alleged that the BJP government was “playing with the future of Odisha’s youth” and demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI.
“The BJP government has asked the Crime Branch to investigate the case to protect the big names involved in the scam,” Gharai said.
BJD women’s wing president Snehangini Chhuria alleged that “each SI post was sold for ₹25 lakh” and claimed the involvement of senior officials.
“Not just SI posts—every recruitment under the BJP regime has turned into a ‘cash-for-job’ scam. This is condemnable,” she said.
Echoing similar sentiments, BJD youth wing president Chinmaya Sahoo termed it an “organised recruitment scam” and asserted that only a CBI probe could expose the full extent of the irregularities.
In response, BJP Yuva Morcha president Abhilash Panda rejected the allegations and cited a 2022 job fraud case in Balasore during the BJD regime.
“Three years ago, job aspirants caught in a recruitment scam were let off under the BJD government. This time, the police have arrested all those involved,” Panda said.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has detained another person from Balasore district for his suspected involvement in the ongoing investigation into the SI recruitment irregularities.
