Odisha Train Tragedy: FIR Against Woman For Faking Husband’s Death To Claim Ex Gratia

Cuttack: A woman from Cuttack tried to pass off her husband as one of the victims by producing fake documents on Monday to avail ex-gratia amount announced for the kin of persons killed in the Bahanaga train accident.

The woman, identified as Gitanjali Dutta (35) of Maniabandha village within Badamba police limits in Cuttack.

Gitanjali approached the Industrial Town police in Balasore claiming that her 40-year-old husband Bijay Dutta was killed in the tragic mishap. However, her bluff was called as police found her husband alive and well.

After learning about her fraudulent tactics, Bijay lodged a written complaint against his wife. He has demanded stringent action against Geetanjali as per law.

Reports suggest several people have made futile and fraudulent attempts to claim the compensation prompting the Odisha government to sound an alarm.

Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena asked the railways and Odisha police to take stringent action against such fake claimants.

Notably, CM Naveen Patnaik has declared Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the deceased while PM Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh. On the other hand, the Railway Ministry has declared Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of those who died in the train accident.