The Odisha Government has cancelled its contract with a company called Silicon Tech Lab Private Limited . This decision came after the company was accused of being involved in a paper leak for the Police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment exam held in 2024 . The government's Electronics & IT Department ended the agreement with Silicon Tech Lab right away, stating that the company broke its service rules and faced serious accusations of cheating.
Many young people in India hope to join the police force. To become a Police Sub-Inspector (SI), candidates must clear a tough written exam. This exam is a gateway to a respected government job, making fair selection very important. A paper leak means that some candidates might have unfairly seen the exam questions before the test, putting honest and hard-working students at a big disadvantage. This is why such scams are taken very seriously by the government and the public.
How the Paper Leak Allegedly Happened
According to official information, Silicon Tech Lab was a sub-contractor. It was hired by another company, ITI Limited , to handle important duties related to the exam. However, Silicon Tech Lab allegedly gave these secret exam responsibilities to a different firm called Panchsoft Technologies . This was done without proper permission and was against their service agreement with the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) .
Officials suspect that Panchsoft Technologies is controlled by Shankar Prusty , who is believed to be the main person behind this scam. By giving confidential exam work to Panchsoft Technologies without approval, Silicon Tech Lab is thought to have helped the question papers get leaked. This event quickly became one of the biggest exam controversies in Odisha this year, affecting many students who took the SI exam.
Arrest of CEO and CBI Investigation
The situation became even more serious when the CEO of Silicon Tech Lab, Suresh Chandra Nayak , was arrested. He was taken into custody for allegedly helping Shankar Prusty hide from the authorities during the early part of the investigation. This arrest highlighted the deep connections suspected in the alleged scam.
Due to the seriousness of the case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now taken over the full investigation. Government officials have described this as a multi-crore examination scam , meaning it involves a very large amount of money. The CBI's involvement shows how big and important this case is, as it aims to find out everyone involved and ensure justice.
Government's Strong Message
The Electronics & IT Department made it clear that Silicon Tech Lab's contract was cancelled immediately. The department stressed that breaking contract rules and ethical standards will not be allowed in any government recruitment process. This decision sends a strong message that the government is committed to keeping recruitment exams fair and transparent.
The ongoing CBI investigation will continue to look into all aspects of the scam. This includes finding out how the paper leak happened, who all were involved, and how to stop such incidents from happening again. Ensuring fair examinations is crucial for students' trust in the system and for building a strong, honest public service.
