Bhubaneswar: A youth was arrested on Friday arrested for allegedly duping people by posing as nephew of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The accused has been identified as Rahul Sahu (24), a resident of Chhelia in Angul district. He is an ITI student.
According to sources, some people duped by him became suspicious when they found that he had blocked their phone numbers and nabbed him from a hotel at Master Canteen and later handed over Capital police on Thursday. Phone, some fake appointment letters and transfer orders were seized from him.
Rahul allegedly collected money from several people by assuring them jobs, job transfers and ownership of petrol pumps and gas agencies. He gained their confidence by posting photographs with the Union Minister and Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha on his social media accounts.
“He had a habit of clicking pictures with VIPs and duping people by identifying himself as close to them. He had been doing cheating people for the last 15 days. He has been booked under Section 318 of BNS,” Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh said while warning people not to fall victim to such imposters.
According to police sources, he was arrested on basis of a complaint lodged by one Hiranmaya Patra, who came in contact with Rahul at the State Guest House a few days ago. “After winning his confidence by showing pictures with political leaders, the accused took Rs 12,000 from the complainant for a teacher’s job to his wife. The amount was paid through PhonePe. Rahul too Rs 15,000 from one Bhupendra Nial, working with Bhuan Steel Plant, to facilitate his transfer and Rs 18,000 from one Prakash Rout on the pretext to provide a job to his relative. The accused later blocked their numbers,” it added.
Investigation revealed that he cheated the complainant and others of around Rs 45,000 by claiming that he was a relative of different political leaders. “He has been arrested and forwarded to court. Further investigation into the matter is underway,” it added.