Kalahandi teacher arrested in Special OTET 2025 question paper leak

Cuttack: The Odisha Crime Branch has arrested Prasant Kumar Khamari, a government school teacher from Kalahandi district, in connection with the Special OTET 2025 question paper leak case.

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Khamari, 56, a teacher at a government UP school in Bhejipadar under Bhawanipatna block, allegedly hand-copied the leaked paper and circulated it on social media. The exam, conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, was scheduled on July 20.

According to investigators, Khamari was part of a conspiracy involving Bijay Kumar Mishra, former Working President of the State Ex-Cadre Teacher Association, Sanatan Bisoi, Koraput district president of the association, and others. The group allegedly obtained the original paper from Jitan Maharana, a data entry operator at the BSE office in Cuttack, and prepared handwritten versions to mask the leak.

The Crime Branch said Khamari sold the paper to teachers who had earlier failed the Special OTET. He reportedly transferred ₹99,000 via PhonePe to Mishra after collecting money. His bank transactions are under verification.

Police seized his mobile phone and handwriting samples for forensic analysis. He was arrested on July 31 and produced before the JMFC-III Court in Cuttack.

So far, seven people have been arrested in the case. Further investigation is in progress.