SCERT Textbook error row: Odisha Crime Branch to begin probe, SP-rank officer to lead investigation

The Odisha Crime Branch is set to launch a detailed investigation into the serious errors detected in school textbooks. Earlier, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi termed it a possible conspiracy and stressed the need for a high-level probe. Four-Member Team to Probe Root Cause of Serious Mistakes in School Textbooks According to sources, the investigation will be led by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP). A dedicated four-member Crime Branch team has been constituted to examine every aspect of the case. Investigators will not only verify how the errors crept into the textbooks but will also trace the root cause and identify those responsible for the lapses. The move comes amid growing concern over glaring mistakes found in textbooks meant for school students. The Odisha government has taken the matter seriously, with the Chief Minister directing the Crime Branch to conduct an impartial and comprehensive investigation into the alleged irregularities. Also Read: Odisha CM Mohan Majhi orders Crime Branch probe into SCERT textbook errors Meanwhile, SCERT Director Bijay Kumar Sahu has proceeded to the Crime Branch office with all relevant documents related to the preparation, printing and publication of the textbooks. Sources said the SCERT Director is likely to lodge a formal FIR with the Crime Branch, paving the way for a criminal investigation into the matter. Officials said the probe will examine every stage of the textbook publication process, including content preparation, editing, proofreading, printing and approval, to determine whether the errors resulted from negligence or a deliberate act. The findings of the Crime Branch investigation are expected to play a crucial role in fixing accountability and ensuring that such lapses do not recur in the future, particularly in educational material meant for schoolchildren.