Crime Branch Expands Odisha Textbook Investigation, Questions Former SCERT Director

14 Jul 2026, 13:19 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

As the Odisha Crime Branch deepens its investigation into the massive errors found in government school textbooks, former State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Director Manoj Padhi has come under fresh scrutiny. Investigators questioned him on Tuesday as part of an expanding probe aimed at fixing responsibility for the publication of textbooks that reportedly contained more than 2,000 language and factual mistakes.

The inquiry forms part of a wider criminal investigation ordered by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi after the scale of the inaccuracies triggered public outrage and raised concerns over quality control in the state’s education system. The Crime Branch has been tasked with establishing whether the lapses were the result of administrative negligence, procedural failures or a deliberate attempt to compromise the textbook preparation process.

During Padhi’s questioning, officials sought detailed explanations about every stage of textbook production. Investigators examined how manuscripts were prepared, whether they underwent proper scrutiny before printing, who authorised the final versions for publication and what review mechanisms were in place before the books were distributed to schools across Odisha.

The agency also asked for details of the officers and subject experts entrusted with reviewing draft manuscripts. Their role in verifying the content before the books reached the printing stage is being closely examined as investigators attempt to identify where the system failed.

Rather than limiting the inquiry to individual officials, the Crime Branch is reviewing the entire textbook development chain—from content drafting and expert evaluation to editing, proofreading, approval, printing, publication and distribution. Officials are scrutinising records, official documents and statements of those associated with the process to determine whether responsibility lies with specific individuals or reflects broader institutional lapses.

Investigators are also attempting to pinpoint the stage at which the errors were introduced. The probe is examining whether the mistakes originated during drafting, editing, proofreading or printing, while also seeking to understand why the inaccuracies escaped multiple layers of review before the textbooks reached students. The investigation will determine whether the failures stemmed from procedural negligence, administrative oversight or deliberate manipulation.

The controversy erupted after more than 2,000 alleged factual and language errors were identified in government school textbooks prescribed for Classes I to VIII. The discovery prompted widespread concern among educators and the public, leading the state government to order a Crime Branch investigation into the publication process.

With the investigation now gathering pace, the Crime Branch is expected to identify those responsible for approving and publishing the flawed textbooks and determine whether the irregularities amount to criminal negligence or point to a wider conspiracy behind the errors.