With the arrest of chairman of a private technical institute, Orissa police on Tuesday claimed to have made a breakthrough in the case in which the institute allegedly hacked the passwords of some candidates and changed their college preferences during e-counselling last year.


Crime branch have arrested two persons in this connection, including the chairman of a Baleswar-based engineering institute, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) told reporters.

Abhay said that the accused have been booked under different sections of IPC and IT Act of 2008.

"It was revealed that the institute along with an internet cafe of the same locality had illegally changed the institute-preferences of six diploma candidates after hacking their passwords," the ADGP said.


"The motive of the institute was to ensure that more and more students are admitted in its roll as seats of the institute were left vacant in previous years," Abhay said, adding that further investigation in the case are on and did not rule out of more arrests in this connection.

Following widespread complaints from candidates alleging that their preferences of studying in institutes have been changed without their consent, the state government in October last year directed the crime branch to conduct an inquiry in the matter and take necessary legal action.


As many as 33 such cases had come to the notice of state industries department while many candidates preferred not to make an appeal.

In a word of cautious, Abhay asked the students going for e-counselling and e-admission to remain fully guarded about their passwords and in no circumstances disclose it to anyone.


"Since most of the admissions in the state are now going to be held through e-counselling, a student should keep the password protected," he suggested.