Bhubaneswar: A 47-year-old middleman was arrested for duping individuals by impersonating a Section Officer of the Panchayati Raj Department.
The accused, identified as Byasadev Rana, hails from Narla in Kalahandi district and had been residing in the Ekamra area of Bhubaneswar for some time.
According to police reports, Rana presented himself as a government official, using a forged identity card and a fake pass that appeared to be legitimate. He used these fake documents to gain unauthorized access to the Lok Seva Bhavan, where he exploited his false position to extort money by promising government jobs.
One of his victims, a youth from Pipili in Puri district, was allegedly cheated out of Rs 20 lakh over various stages. The victim had been promised a government job, but when Rana failed to fulfill the promise, the victim filed a complaint with the Capital Police Station.
Following the investigation, Byasadev Rana was arrested near the gate of Lok Seva Bhavan on Friday. After his arrest, the accused was forwarded to court. The police are continuing their investigation into the matter.
