Bhubaneswar: A 31-year-old man, who was recently released on bail in a bomb threat case linked to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, has been arrested again for allegedly issuing fresh threats to trigger blasts during the upcoming Rath Yatra and target the Shankaracharya’s Govardhan Mutt.
Police identified the accused as Pratik Mishra, a habitual offender with a criminal history spanning over a decade and involving at least 16 cases, mostly related to cheating, extortion, forgery, and cybercrime.
According to police, Mishra was first arrested on January 25 for allegedly posting bomb threats against the Jagannath Temple on social media. Investigators said he had created a fake online profile using a woman’s identity in an attempt to implicate her in the case.
After securing bail on April 10, Mishra allegedly resumed criminal activities by creating WhatsApp groups under the same fabricated identity, adding prominent individuals, and issuing fresh threats of bomb blasts unless extortion money running into lakhs was paid.
Following the latest complaints, four separate cases were registered against him at Town Police Station (April 13), Baselisahi (April 17), Satyabadi (April 18), and Sea Beach Police Station (April 19) for issuing threats through digital platforms.
“In one message, he demanded Rs 20 lakh from the Shankaracharya’s Govardhan Mutt, threatening to blow up the institution if the demand was not met. In another, he warned of blasts during the upcoming Rath Yatra and at Balunkeswar Temple in Satyabadi area,” said Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh.
Police suspect that Mishra may be mentally unstable, noting his repeated involvement in serious offences despite multiple arrests and legal action. His criminal record includes charges of attempt to murder, theft, molestation, sexual assault, cheating, forgery, extortion, and cybercrime.
Officials also said Mishra was earlier arrested on April 13 in Kendrapada’s Patkura area in connection with an extortion and abetment to suicide case. The victim had allegedly died by suicide after being falsely implicated in a fabricated rape case, allegedly orchestrated by Mishra and his associates, who demanded Rs 1 lakh to withdraw the complaint.
Investigators further revealed that in September 2019, Mishra had defamed two school teachers in Puri’s Balanga area by digitally manipulating their photographs with that of a former minister.
Police said further investigation is underway.
