Odisha: Fake RAW officer held for duping businessman of over Rs 1 crore

Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch arrested a person for allegedly duping a businessman of Rs 1.17 crore by posing as an officer of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

The accused has been identified as Rajesh Gahlot. The agency apprehended him from Sector-23, Dwaraka on December 18. He was then produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate, Dwaraka-10, yesterday. The court has allowed him 5 days of transit bail with direction to appear before the SDJM, Bhubaneswar on or before December 24.

As per EOW sources, the case was registered on the basis of a written complaint filed by Rikab Chand Munot, proprietor of M/s Rashtriya Stainless Steel, Jindal House, Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi.

The complainant alleged that Surya Mani Tripathy, Amit Kumar and Rajesh Gahlot entered into criminal conspiracy with another accused and impersonated themselves as the officers of IAS, PWD and RAW, respectively.

The trio, along with a woman who identified herself as a Treasury Officer, cheated the complainant and his son of Rs 1.17 crore on the pretext of arranging government work orders in Works Department, Government of Odisha, alleged Munot.

It was ascertained during investigation that the three accused created a series of fake documents like work orders purportedly issued by O/o EIC (Civil), Nirman Soudha, Bhubaneswar, and notarized fake agreements with Rashtriya Stainless Steel.

They handed over fake work orders having contract value of Rs 32.52 crore and Rs 47.52 crore to the complainant and cheated the victim of Rs 1.17 crore in that process.

Earlier, Surya Mani Tripathy and Amit Kumar were arrested in the case. They are currently in judicial custody.