Odisha School Textbook Error Case: Former SCERT Director Manoj Padhi Arrested

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested former SCERT Director Manoj Padhi in connection with alleged irregularities in the preparation, approval and publication of school textbooks for Classes I to VIII.

Padhi was earlier detained for questioning by the investigating agency. After examining evidence and recording his statement, the Crime Branch formally placed him under arrest as part of its ongoing investigation.

The Crime Branch had registered a case following allegations of serious irregularities in the preparation and publication of school textbooks across the state. The case has been registered under Sections 316(5), 201, 3(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint lodged by SCERT Director Madhusmita Sahu.
The investigation is being led by DSP Narendra Kumar Behera as the Investigating Officer under the supervision of the Crime Branch Superintendent of Police.

The case follows a state government inquiry that uncovered 1,678 factual, typographical and printing errors in textbooks for Classes I to VIII across multiple subjects. In response, the Odisha government had constituted a three-member committee headed by Development Commissioner to probe the lapses.

Acting on the committee’s findings, the state government had suspended Manoj Padhi along with three Assistant Directors of SCERT for their alleged role in the textbook preparation process.

The Crime Branch is now examining the involvement of officials responsible for drafting, vetting, approving and printing the textbooks, as the investigation into one of Odisha’s biggest textbook controversies continues.