Bhubaneswar: Badagada Police on Monday arrested a man for allegedly posing as an MSME department official and cheating job aspirants of lakhs of rupees in Bhubaneswar.
The accused has been identified as Debasis Dash.
According to reports, Debasis allegedly lured unemployed youths by promising government jobs and project work under the MSME department and collected money from them on multiple occasions.
The accused cheated victims of around Rs 43 lakh by assuring them jobs in the MSME department. Based on the complaint, Badagada Police initiated an investigation and subsequently arrested him.
Investigators further found that the accused had also cheated several others of approximately Rs 9 lakh in Ganjam and Kandhamal districts using similar tactics. He reportedly posed as a senior MSME official and misled victims with false promises of government appointments and project allocations.
The accused had created a fake MSME department website in 2023 to build credibility and execute the fraud. During the investigation, police also seized forged documents, including fake agreement papers and identity cards used to deceive victims.
The accused’s associate, identified as Jyotiranjan Paikray, allegedly involved in the scam as a “chairman,” is currently absconding, reports said.
Victim Kanha Achari alleged that he was initially cheated of Rs 4 lakh and later promised benefits under the PM Vishwakarma scheme and solar project works. Despite repeated assurances and signed agreements over two years, neither the promised job nor the money was returned, he said.
Further investigation is underway to trace other possible victims and uncover the full extent of the fraud network.
