Bhubaneswar, Nov 12 (Representative) The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Bhubaneswar has arrested two fraudsters in a cheating case involving over Rs 1.47 crore. EOW sources said a case has been registered against accused— Baikunthanath Naik and Bhimsen Moharana have cheated impersonating as Assistant Section Officers (ASO) and senior officers of Home Department They were booked under various sections of IPC and forwarded to the court of SDJM, Bhubaneswar today. A case was registered on the complaint of one Badal Kumar Raula against Baikunthanath Naik, Bhimsen Moharana and two others for fraud, forgery and cheating of Rs 1.47 crore from 38 job aspirants. Investigation so far revealed that the complainant, Badal Kumar Raul and 37 other victim aspirants had appeared in Combined Police Service Examination, 2013 (CPSE-2013) conducted by Odisha Staff Selection Commission for the post of Sub Inspectors of Police, Sergeant and Deputy Subedar. The final merit list of the selected candidates was published in December, 2016. There was an impression that there would be a supplementary list. The victim aspirants who had appeared the viva-voce test and were hopeful of getting the job in case of publication of any supplementary list.
The fraudsters exploited this situation. While Baikuntha Naik, impersonated as ASO, Bhimsen Moharana, impersonated as a high official of the Home Department. The accused persons gave false assurance to the victim aspirants to enlist their name in the supplementary selection list. Baikuntha Naik had shown them fake Identity Cards of ASO and demanded Rs.5 to 6 lakhs from each of them. Being persuaded, the complainant and others collected money and paid the amount to the fraudsters. During the period from May 2020 to November 2020, the accused persons took Rs.1.47 crore from them. The amount was paid both through account and in cash. It was also revealed during investigation that accused Bhimsen Moharana has retired as the Senior Grade Recorder from Higher Education Department. During house search of the accused Baikunth Naik, many incriminating documents including 12 ATM Cards as well the fake ID card of ASO have been seized. All bank accounts of the two accused have been frozen. Investigation of the case is continuing to identify and nab if any other persons are involved in this case or in similar frauds. The EOW has requested people who might have been cheated by the accused to come up with a complaint.