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The Odisha Crime Branch has registered a case and taken over the investigation into irregularities in the preparation, approval and publication of Classes I-VIII school textbooks. The probe follows CM Mohan Charan Majhi's directive after hundreds of errors were found in the books. Multiple teams have been formed, while four SCERT officials were suspended and six others face disciplinary action.

Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has formally taken over the investigation into the irregularities in the preparation, approval and publication of school textbooks for Classes I to VIII in the state, with the registration of a case in this regard on Monday.

According to an official statement, the Crime Branch officials said that, based on a written complaint lodged by Madhusmita Sahoo, Director of Teacher Education & State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), the Crime Branch has registered Case No. 08/2026. The case has been registered under Sections 316(5), 201, 3(5) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

"The investigation of the case is being undertaken by Narendra Kumar Behera, DSP, CID CB, under the supervision of SP, CID, CB. Multiple teams are constituted for looking into the various aspects of the investigation relating to preparation, approval, processing and publication of school textbooks for Classes I to VIII," informed the Crime Branch.

It is worth noting that, taking the errors found in the school textbooks for Classes I to VIII seriously, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on July 11, made an important decision and directed that a criminal investigation be conducted into the entire process of preparation, approval, and publication of the textbooks.