In a major development, Odisha Police have apprehended two active Indian Navy personnel alongside a dismissed employee for their alleged involvement in extorting money from individuals seeking to join the Agniveer scheme during a recent recruitment drive at INS Chilka. The suspects have been named as Vinay Kumar Ray, aged 38, who is stationed at INS Chilka, and 23-year-old Satyam Chahar from INS Kesari, located in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, along with 25-year-old Bhoosan, a former staff member of the Navy.
Authorities reported that the accused had been soliciting bribes ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹1.2 lakh from candidates, promising them an “ensured selection” into the high-profile Agniveer program. The undisclosed allegations surfaced after a candidate filed a complaint, revealing they were invited to a WhatsApp group where one of the accused offered assistance in navigating the selection process, including boosting examination scores.
The candidate’s alarm over the unethical proposition led them to inform the relevant authorities at INS Chilka. Following this alert, Lieutenant Commander Adwitiya Singh, who serves as the Training Correspondence Officer, took action by filing a formal complaint with the Balugaon Police Station on April 19.
Khurda district’s Superintendent of Police, Sagarika Nath, confirmed the arrests, declaring, “The accused used their positions and inside access to deceive aspirants and threaten them with cancellation of their candidature if they refused to pay.” This alarming situation raises questions about integrity within the Navy’s recruitment process and highlights the need for vigilance against corrupt practices.
In light of the scandal, the Indian Navy has commenced a thorough review of the documents of all selected candidates to ensure that no fraudulent appointments have occurred. The incident has prompted widespread concerns regarding the integrity of the recruitment process, leading advocates to call for stronger oversight and monitoring measures during future recruitment drives. As investigations continue, officials are keen to uphold the sanctity of the selection process and restore public trust in the armed forces’ hiring practices.
