Six Arrested for Organised Crime in Orissa High Court ASO Exam-2024

Cuttack: Six individuals were arrested on Saturday for their alleged involvement in leaking model answers and employing unfair means during the ASO Examination-2024 of the Orissa High Court.

According to police reports, a case was initiated at the Lal Bag Police Station following complaints regarding irregularities detected in the examination conducted by an outsourcing agency on July 13, 2025.

Investigations into the answer scripts revealed a direct replication of model answers and unusually high scores among certain candidates. The police noted that a technical probe, including phone record analysis, unveiled suspicious communication between agency officials, intermediaries, and candidates.

Based on substantial documentary, digital, and technical evidence, six individuals have been taken into custody. The involvement of five additional suspects, already in judicial custody for other examination irregularities, has also been established.

The police emphasized that the actions of the accused constitute a large-scale organized crime and criminal conspiracy.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Himansu Sekhar Dash, Sridhara Mantri, Alok Sahoo, Nirmalaya Kumar Das, Gangadhara Jena, and Joytirmayee Sahoo.

They face charges under various sections of the BNS, including 318, 316, and 61.

Ongoing investigations aim to uncover financial linkages, identify additional suspects, and reveal the broader conspiracy.

Previously, the Orissa High Court annulled the ASO examination held on July 13, 2025, and conducted a revamped Mains written examination on December 7, 2025, for 147 vacancies.