One more fraudster arrested for duping job aspirants of Rs 1.47 crore in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Crime Branch today arrested one more fraudster in connection with a job fraud case to the tune of Rs 1.47 crore.

The accused person has been identified as Jayanta Mohanty. He was arrested from Chandaneswar area in Balasore district.

The accused was arrested under sections 419/420/467/468/471/120-B of IPC and will be deposed at the SDJM Court in Bhubaneswar today, the EOW said in a release.

The arrest was made on the basis of complaint by one Badal Kumar Raula against four persons including Jayanta Mohanty for cheating as many as 38 job aspirants.

According to the complaint, the Mohanty and 3 others including Baikunthanath Naik and Bhimsen Moharana duped the job aspirants on pretext of enlisting their names in the supplementary selection list of Combined Police Service Examination-2013 by impersonating themselves as Assistant Section Officer in Home Department and other senior officials.

The investigation revealed that the complainant Badal Kumar Raula and 37 other victims had appeared in the Combined Police Service Examination (CPSE) – 2013 conducted by Odisha Staff Selection Commission for the post of Sub-Inspectors, Sergeant and Deputy Subedar.

The final merit list of the selected candidates was published in December 2016. Although, the names of victims were not in the list, they were hopeful of getting job in case of publication of any supplementary list. Taking advantage of the situation, the fraudsters Baikuntha Naik, Bhimsen Moharana and two others including Jayanta Mohanty impersonating as Assistant Section Officer, senior official in the Home Department and having contact with higher officials in the Home Department respectively assured the victims to get their names enlisted in the supplementary selection list.

Identifying himself as the ASO, accused Baikuntha Naik demanded the victims Rs 5-6 lakh each for the work. The job aspirants being persuaded by the fraudsters arranged the huge amount and paid for the job.

The EOW stated that the accused persons had received Rs 1.47 crore from the victims during the period from May to November 2020.

During the probe, it was revealed that accused Bhimsen Moharana has retired as the Senior Grade Recorder from the Higher Education Department.

The EOW sleuths during searches have seized many incriminating documents including 12 ATM cards, fake ID card of ASO from the possession of accused Baikuntha Naik. They also freezed his bank accounts.

Jayanta Mohanty was absconding in the case. Allegedly, he had fled from Odisha to evade arrest. However, the EOW managed to nab on the basis of intelligence input.

Earlier, accused persons Baikuntha Naik and Bhimsen Moharana were arrested in the job fraud case.