Puri: In a major breakthrough after nearly two years of investigation, Puri Police have arrested a man for allegedly posing as a police officer and blackmailing women across multiple districts of Odisha.
The accused has been identified as Manas Ranjan Jena (45), a resident of Mundanani village under Baliapal Police Station limits in Balasore district. Jena, an engineering graduate, reportedly used his technical knowledge to extort women.
According to police, the case came to light after a complainant reported on September 14, 2023, that she had received a call from an unknown number on September 5, 2023, around 9 pm. The caller allegedly claimed to be a Puri Police Inspector and threatened to circulate her objectionable video on social media unless she paid Rs 2.70 lakh.
Fearing social embarrassment, the complainant transferred Rs 1.34 lakh to the accused through a UPI platform on the same day.
Following the complaint, Puri Police registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation. During the probe, officials collected and analysed documentary and digital evidence, which led to the identification and arrest of Jena. He was later forwarded to court.
Police said the accused has previously been jailed multiple times and allegedly used his education and technical skills to cheat people. During the arrest, authorities seized five mobile phones, four ATM cards, one bank passbook, one cheque book, and 34 SIM cards from him.
Further investigation is underway to determine the involvement of any accomplices and to trace the financial trail of the extorted money.
