Cuttack: A fake journalist was arrested today by Cuttack Sadar police on the charge that he refused to pay a youth his remuneration, whom the accused had engaged in some work here, but allegedly kidnapped the latter when the victim demanded it.
The arrested was identified as Sashi Bhushan Sahu (32), who impersonated himself to be a journalist working in a New Delhi-based magazine named ‘Human Touch’. Sashi Bhushan belongs to Purbagadia locality under Baideswar police limits and Banki town of the district.
The abductee has been identified as Rakesh Sahu from Chhatia of Jajpur district.
According to a senior official in Sadar police station, Sashi Bhushan and a few of his aides had engaged the victim youth earlier by issuing a fabricated identity card in the latter’s favour. Subsequently, Rakesh came to know that the identity card issued to him was a manipulated one.
By that time, Rakesh had already worked for the ill-motivated Sashi Bhushan for a few days. Hence, the victim denied to work anymore and demanded his remuneration for those days.
Irked with the demand of Rakesh, Sashi Bhushan kidnapped the victim youth. The accused and his aides were on their way from Kathjodi bridge end of Gopalpur in Banki town to Bhubaneswar.
The speeding vehicle was passing via Panagada Square when they were intercepted by some locals near Ganesh temple in Kazipatana. Later, the locals informed the police about it.
However, one of the kidnappers managed to flee from the spot before the police reached there.
The police team nabbed two others and detained both of them including Sashi Bhushan for quizzing. The arrested was forwarded to a local court later in the day, the senior official stated.
Sadar police have also seized a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) engaged in the crime.