Man poses as CM’s secy to ‘extort’ mines officer, held | Bhubaneswar News
Rourkela: A 24-year-old man was arrested on Saturday evening for allegedly attempting to extort money from the deputy director of mines, Rourkela, by posing as private secretary to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
The accused, identified as Aman Pradhan, a native of Kalahandi district, resides at Patia in Bhubaneswar. Police said deputy director of mines, Bimbadhar Sethi (56), lodged a complaint at Uditnagar police station on April 25, alleging an unidentified person called him on April 22 at 11:39 am, identified himself as Manoj Sahu, the CM’s private secretary, and demanded money. The same day at 5.29 pm, and again on April 23, the caller contacted Sethi, reiterating the demand.
After repeated threats, Sethi filed a police complaint. Acting swiftly, Uditnagar police analysed call detail records and traced the location of the accused with the help of the nodal officer in Bhubaneswar. Coordination with the special crime unit under Nayapalli police station in Bubaneswar led to the formation of a team which apprehended Pradhan.
Pradhan was brought to Rourkela on Saturday, where he confessed to the crime during interrogation. His mobile phone was seized. “The accused was produced in court and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation is ongoing,” said D Lakra, inspector in-charge, Uditnagar police station.
The accused, identified as Aman Pradhan, a native of Kalahandi district, resides at Patia in Bhubaneswar. Police said deputy director of mines, Bimbadhar Sethi (56), lodged a complaint at Uditnagar police station on April 25, alleging an unidentified person called him on April 22 at 11:39 am, identified himself as Manoj Sahu, the CM’s private secretary, and demanded money. The same day at 5.29 pm, and again on April 23, the caller contacted Sethi, reiterating the demand.
After repeated threats, Sethi filed a police complaint. Acting swiftly, Uditnagar police analysed call detail records and traced the location of the accused with the help of the nodal officer in Bhubaneswar. Coordination with the special crime unit under Nayapalli police station in Bubaneswar led to the formation of a team which apprehended Pradhan.
Pradhan was brought to Rourkela on Saturday, where he confessed to the crime during interrogation. His mobile phone was seized. “The accused was produced in court and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation is ongoing,” said D Lakra, inspector in-charge, Uditnagar police station.
