Odisha Police Launches Investigation into Textbook Errors: What’s Behind the Controversy?

Investigation Initiated by Odisha Crime Branch

Bhubaneswar: On Monday, the Odisha Police's crime branch established several teams to investigate significant errors found in school textbooks for grades 1 through 8, according to officials.

The inquiry will delve into the entire process of textbook creation, including preparation, approval, printing, and distribution to students statewide.

The CID-Crime Branch initiated a case following a formal complaint lodged by Madhusmita Sahoo, the director of teacher education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), with the crime branch's Superintendent of Police.

Charges have been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including criminal breach of trust and conspiracy.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Narendra Kumar Behera is leading the investigation under the oversight of the CID-CB Superintendent.

According to police statements, multiple teams have been formed to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation, scrutinizing every phase from textbook preparation to distribution.

These teams will gather necessary documents, records, and testimonies, and may interview individuals involved in the process.

The FIR was filed shortly after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi instructed SCERT to report the matter to the CID-CB SP.

The chief minister suggested that the widespread errors in textbooks might be part of a conspiracy to tarnish the reputation of the BJP government.

In response to public outcry over the inaccuracies, including a claim that scientist Isaac Newton was a pilot, Majhi set up a high-level committee led by Development Commissioner D K Singh to investigate.

Following Singh's findings, the state government suspended four senior officials, including the former SCERT director and three assistant directors.

Additionally, disciplinary actions have been initiated against six other officials linked to the errors.

Meanwhile, the opposition party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has challenged the chief minister's conspiracy claims and demanded accountability from those responsible.

"If the chief minister believes there was a conspiracy behind the textbook errors, he must disclose who orchestrated this plan to discredit the government," stated BJD MLA and former minister Arun Kumar Sahoo.