The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has officially launched an investigation into irregularities surrounding the creation, approval, and release of school textbooks for Classes I to VIII in the state. A case, numbered 08/2026, has been filed based on a complaint by Madhusmita Sahoo, Director of Teacher Education & State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). The case falls under Sections 316(5), 201, 3(5), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The investigation, led by Narendra Kumar Behera, DSP, CID CB, under the supervision of SP, CID, CB, involves multiple teams focusing on different aspects of the textbook preparation process. Following significant errors in the textbooks for Classes I to VIII, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a criminal probe into the entire publication process on July 11. He instructed the Director of SCERT to file a First Information Report (FIR) with the Superintendent of Police (SP), Crime Branch, to ensure an impartial inquiry.
In response to the textbook errors, a committee chaired by the Development Commissioner was previously formed by the Chief Minister to identify the causes. As a result, the former Director of SCERT and three Assistant Directors were suspended, while six other Assistant Directors faced disciplinary actions. The newly released textbooks were criticized for containing numerous mistakes, leading to public outcry and embarrassment for the state government.
