Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch has stepped up its investigation into the alleged irregularities in the preparation and publication of government school textbooks by carrying out a fresh inquiry at the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) headquarters, signalling continued efforts to ensure accountability and strengthen the integrity of the textbook publication process.
A three-member Crime Branch team led by DSP Narendra Behera visited the SCERT office on Saturday and conducted a detailed examination of records related to the textbook error case. Investigators scrutinised a range of official documents to trace the sequence of events and ascertain how the errors found their way into the textbooks.
The latest exercise forms part of the agency’s ongoing investigation following searches conducted at the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) and the Odisha Textbook Preparation and Marketing (OTPM) office on Friday. During those searches, the Crime Branch seized several key documents, which are now being cross-verified with records available at SCERT to identify any procedural lapses and establish the chain of decision-making.
Officials said the documents seized from the OTPM office include tender-related records, official correspondence received from SCERT and other files linked to the textbook printing and publication process. These records are expected to play a crucial role in reconstructing the timeline of events and verifying compliance with established procedures.
The investigation gained momentum earlier this week with the arrest of former SCERT Director Manoj Padhi in connection with the alleged large-scale irregularities in the preparation and publication of government school textbooks. He was taken into custody after being detained and questioned by the Crime Branch over multiple aspects of the textbook preparation process.
With the investigation progressing through document verification and institutional inquiries, the Crime Branch’s continued action reflects the state’s focus on ensuring transparency, fixing accountability and safeguarding the quality of educational materials supplied to government schools.
