Cuttack, June 14: Two persons, including the chairman of Jhadeswar Institute of Engineering and Technology in Balasore, has been arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with a fraud during the e-counselling last year.

The accused have been identified as Paramananda Samatray, chairman of Institute of Engineering and Technology and one of his employees who had changed the preference of six candidates without authorisation in favour of the college.

“Following a detailed inquiry, we have arrested two persons, including the chairman of a private engineering college, in connection with the incident,” said additional director general of police (Crime Branch), Abhay.

Both the accused were arrested under Section 418/419/420 of the Indian Penal Code and 66 (C) of the Information Technology Act yesterday and have been produced before the SDJM court, Balasore, today. Nearly 33 students had alleged that their preferences for admissions in various engineering colleges were changed during e-counselling for diploma that were introduced for the first time last year.

Following an internal inquiry by the industry department, the Crime Branch was entrusted to probe the matter as the case was related to cyber crime in October last year. Following a detailed investigation, the Crime Branch registered a case on June 10 and subsequently arrested two persons in connection with case.

According to Crime Branch sources, during investigation it was found that computers located at Jhadeswar Institute of Engineering and Technology and a private internet café were used to illegally change the preference of colleges made by six candidates in favour of the institute.

“The change in the choice for admissions made by candidates was made on the last date of the e-counselling by stealing their password on the pretext of helping the candidates to fill up the e-counselling process,” said Abhay.

Abhay further stated that after tracking the IP address and telephone numbers, five computers that were used to commit the offence were located at Jhadeswar Institute and one internet café which was used by the officials of the same college to help the candidates for completing the e-counselling process.

Later, after gaining access to the password of the candidates, the authorities used it to change the preference of colleges made by the concerned candidates for admissions in the favour of their college.

The crime branch is also investigating the same type of fraud in the degree admissions of engineering candidates, which is still in the inquiry stage.