In a major development in the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) question paper leak case, the Crime Branch has secured a two-day remand of the main accused, data entry operator Jitan Maharana, and teacher and Xcad Teachers' Association leader Vijay Kumar Mishra. The remand is on the 11th and 12th of this month.
Key Highlights of the Case
- Accused Arrested: The Crime Branch has arrested Jitan Maharana and eight others, including Vice-Chairman of the Secondary Education Council Dr. Nihar Ranjan Mohanty.
- How the Leak Happened: Maharana allegedly stole the question paper from Dr. Mohanty's laptop.
- Other Accused: The list includes Vijay Kumar Mishra, Sanatan Bishoy, Ramji Prasad Gupta, Ajay Kumar Sahu, Jayant Kumar, and Prashant Kumar Khamari.
- Action Taken: Dr. Nihar Ranjan Mohanty and Prashant Kumar Khamari have been suspended.
- Exam Rescheduled: The OTET exam is now scheduled for August 31, 2025, with stricter security protocols.
The Crime Branch may gather more crucial information during the two-day remand of Maharana and Mishra. The investigation revealed suspicious communication between Dr. Mohanty and Maharana, including over 100 calls outside office hours in the past three months .