Bhubaneswar: The Infocity police on Sunday arrested a man for allegedly duping around 250 businessmen of nearly Rs 3 crore by posing as the son of a former Lok Sabha MP and luring them into a fake franchise investment scheme.
The accused, identified as Sachidananda Bhoi (51) of Bargarh district, had allegedly floated a company in the Patia area of Bhubaneswar last year, promising franchise opportunities for doorstep car repair services. Police said he attracted investors by projecting high returns and credibility before collecting large sums and shutting down the office abruptly.
According to police, the accused misrepresented himself as the son of former MP Krupasindhu Bhoi to gain the trust of investors. “Our investigation shows that about 250 people were cheated, with total investments close to Rs 3 crore. He also misappropriated employees’ salaries,” said ACP (Zone VI) Manas Ranjan Pradhan.
A case was registered at Infocity Police Station on October 15, 2025, following multiple complaints from victims. Since then, Bhoi had been absconding. He was eventually tracked down and arrested from the Kharibari police station area in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, where he was allegedly planning to flee to Nepal.
Police further said the accused is involved in seven other cheating cases, including six in Bhubaneswar and one in Jharsuguda district. An NBW was also pending against him in Jharsuguda at the time of his arrest.
