Bhubaneswar: A 32-year-old man was arrested by the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police on Tuesday for allegedly duping a businessman of over Rs 1.08 crore on the false promise of facilitating the purchase of a luxury car at a discounted price.
The accused has been identified as Sambit Panda, a resident of Sailashree Vihar under Chandrasekharpur Police Station limits, is the son of retired police officer Bidyut Chandra Panda. At the time of arrest, he was working as a showroom manager at NEXA in Cuttack.
According to an official press release, the complainant, Rohit Roshan Mohanty, came into contact with Panda on March 19, 2023. Introducing himself as a freelance car broker and former Audi Bhubaneswar manager, Panda allegedly convinced Mohanty of his credibility and promised delivery of a high-end car within a month.
Trusting his assurances, Mohanty transferred a total of Rs 1,08,50,000 through multiple bank transactions. However, after receiving the amount, Panda failed to deliver the vehicle and started avoiding communication. When approached for updates, he allegedly resorted to verbal abuse and issued threats.
Following a complaint filed through the JMFC, COG-II Court in Bhubaneswar, a case was registered at Infocity Police Station on September 7, 2024 (Case No. 440), under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of cheating, criminal intimidation, and forgery.
The police further stated that Panda used forged documents during the transaction and may have defrauded other persons in a similar manner. His arrest was made on June 10 from the NEXA showroom under Cantonment Police Station limits in Cuttack.
During interrogation, Panda confessed to the crime and reportedly named two accomplices, whose identities are being withheld pending further investigation. Police said the accused caused significant financial and psychological harm to the victim.
An investigation is underway to trace the involvement of others and determine whether more victims were targeted by the group.
