Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested former State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Director Manoj Padhi in connection with the school textbook error controversy that triggered widespread outrage across the state.
Padhi was taken into custody after extensive questioning as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the preparation and publication of textbooks for Classes I to VIII. He had earlier been suspended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi following the controversy.
The Crime Branch initiated the probe on the Chief Minister’s directions after receiving a formal complaint from current SCERT Director Madhusmita Sahu.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the supervision of the Crime Branch Superintendent of Police, with DSP Narendra Kumar Behera serving as the Investigating Officer.
Investigators will examine every stage of the textbook publication process, including:
- Content creation
- Review and editing
- Approval procedures
- Printing and publication
- Distribution mechanisms
The controversy erupted after more than 1,600 errors were reportedly found in newly published textbooks for primary school students. The revelations drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, education experts, parents, and civil society groups, raising serious concerns about quality control in Odisha’s education system.
The Crime Branch is continuing its investigation to identify all officials and individuals responsible for the lapses and determine appropriate legal action.
