Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) 2024 question paper leak case. Muna Mohanty, a resident of Kalapathara in Cuttack who was the alleged mastermind behind the scam, has been arrested along with his three associates.
According to the Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra, Mohanty operated a lavish lifestyle despite having no known means of income. He ran a crime syndicate with associates Srikanta Maharana alias Rinku (34), Arabinda Das, Biswaranjan Behera, T. Abhimanyu Dora of Daspalla in Nayagarh, and Priyadarsini Samal of Dhenkanal, operates the crime syndicate under one Sankar Prusty, Director Panchsoft Technologies Pvt Ltd at Patia Bhubaneswar to subvert the entire examination process who helped him subvert the examination process.
Efforts are on to arrest the key accused Shankar Prusty who allegedly operates the syndicate from Delhi, the DG added.
The syndicate allegedly collected original certificates from aspiring candidates and provided them with question papers for a hefty sum of Rs 20-25 lakhs. Mohanty and his associates used buses to transport candidates to Vijayanagaram, where they would allegedly obtain leaked question papers.
The Crime Branch arrested Mohanty and his associates on October 17, after a thorough investigation. So far, 123 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the case, and several incriminating documents and digital devices have been seized.
The investigation revealed that Mohanty had booked three buses for transporting candidates and paid Rs 2,30,000 from his bank account. He also arranged accommodation for the candidates in Vijayanagaram.
The probe agency also seized many incrementing documents like list of candidates, payment to the Travel Agency towards booking of Buses, vehicles involved in the conveyance of accused persons etc. (2- Tippers, 1-Scorpio, 1- Mahindra Thar, hard cash of Rs.1,20,000/- and more than 150 Digital devices)
The Crime Branch is continuing its investigation to apprehend other key conspirators involved in the scam. The case has been transferred to the Special Vigilance Court, and the court has ordered the Crime Branch to submit the case diary and all relevant documents
