Bhubaneswar, Oct 23: Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Thursday welcomed the State Government’s decision to order a CBI investigation into the multi-crore police Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam, terming it a major step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.

Speaking to media persons, Harichandan said, “The Chief Minister has already announced the CBI probe. This reflects the government’s firm intent to maintain complete transparency in the process of recruitment. The ongoing recruitment drive will continue with the highest standards of fairness and integrity.”

He further added, “The government is committed to bringing in a transparent system, and the commission will play a key role in ensuring a clean and credible recruitment mechanism. The reforms being implemented will bring visible change in the system.”

Harichandan expressed confidence that no irregularities will be tolerated and the CBI enquiry will strengthen public trust in the government’s recruitment process.

It is pertinent here to mention that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into the multi-crore SI recruitment examination scam.

According to the official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), serious allegations of massive irregularities and corruption had surfaced in the Odisha Police SI recruitment examination. The investigation was initially handed over to the Crime Branch-CID of the state police.

Preliminary findings suggest the scam may have links extending beyond Odisha, particularly to Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

This apart, it is suspected that inter-state organised criminal networks could also be involved in this multi-crore scam.

“Keeping in view these developments, the Chief Minister decided to entrust the probe to the CBI to ensure a thorough investigation, complete exposure of the scam, and stringent punishment for all those involved in the scam,” said the CMO.

Additionally, the state government is also mulling to set up a permanent commission for the selection of personnel in the police and other uniformed services to ensure transparency and accountability in future recruitment. It is worth noting that so far 123 accused perople involved in the SI recruitment scam have so far beearrested n by the Odisha Police.

New Delhi, Oct 23: The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning to witnesses attempting to mislead trial proceedings in a criminal case, directing that any such conduct be dealt with strictly by the trial court.

Remarking that the integrity of the judicial process must be preserved, a bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N.V. Anjaria observed: “If the trial court finds that any witness has tried to take sides in their deposition without being truthful to the court, the court shall take suo motu cognisance of such conduct and initiate action in their individual capacity.”

The observation came amid submissions by senior advocate Vipin Sanghi, appearing for the petitioner, that three private prosecution witnesses had turned hostile after the accused/respondent no.2 was released from custody.

Sanghi added that such a development “speaks volumes about the conduct of the respondent”.

Although senior advocate Mukta Gupta, appearing for the accused, “strongly denied such allegation”, the apex court expressed concern over the possible influence on witnesses.

Stressing the need for fairness, the Justice Amanullah-led Bench also directed that the remaining official witnesses — two doctors and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officers — record their evidence “under full police protection, without the witnesses being intimidated or influenced in any manner”.

“Keeping in view the fact that now all private individuals, who were prosecution witnesses, have been examined, and only two doctors and the Forensic Science Laboratory(FSL) officers, who are official witnesses, remain to be examined, we direct the learned Senior Advocate for the respondent no.1 (State) to ensure that the remaining witnesses record their evidence under full police protection, without the witnesses being intimidated or influenced in any manner,” the apex court said.

It further ordered that its directions be “communicated to the concerned witnesses prior to their deposition”.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 11.

Thane: A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly molesting an eight-year-old girl in Maharashtra’s Thane district, police said on Thursday.

The alleged incident took place in the Bhiwandi area on October 15, which was the child’s birthday.

Citing the FIR, an official said the girl was playing outside her house when accused Dineshkumar Sharma told her he would buy her a birthday gift and asked her to accompany him. The child got scared and ran into her house.

Sharma allegedly later accosted the minor when she was playing with her friends.

“The accused touched her inappropriately. When she raised an alarm, Sharma warned her of dire consequences if she talked about the incident with anyone,” said the official, citing the FIR.

The girl’s father approached the Bhiwandi police on Wednesday (October 22), prompting the cops to arrest Sharma under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The police did not explain why the girl’s father approached them late.