Bhubaneswar: A day after the arrest of former State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Director Manoj Padhi in connection with alleged irregularities in school textbooks, two owners of a private printing firm linked to the case have moved the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

Sources said, fearing possible action by the Odisha Crime Branch, the owners of Jagannath Process Pvt. Ltd., Asim Ghosh and Anupam Ghosh, have filed petitions before the High Court.

The move is being seen as a precautionary step amid apprehensions of arrest as the Crime Branch intensifies its investigation into the matter.

On Tuesday, the Crime Branch arrested Padhi after prolonged questioning as part of its probe into the large number of errors found in newly published textbooks for Classes I to VIII. Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had placed him under suspension following the controversy.

The Crime Branch launched its investigation on the Chief Minister’s directions after receiving a written complaint from SCERT Director Madhusmita Sahu.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), under the direct supervision of the Crime Branch Superintendent of Police, has been constituted for the probe. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Narendra Kumar Behera has been appointed as the Investigating Officer.

Officials said the investigation will examine every stage of the textbook preparation process including content creation, review, approval, printing, publication, and distribution to identify lapses and fix accountability.

The controversy surfaced after more than 1,600 errors were reportedly found in newly published textbooks for primary school students, triggering widespread criticism from opposition parties, educationists, parents, and other stakeholders.