3 Arrested for Selling ₹2,000 Notes as ‘Lucky Charms’ at ₹15,000 in Odisha’s Bhadrak

Bhadrak: Police in Odisha’s Bhadrak district have arrested three individuals for allegedly selling Rs 2,000 notes, claiming they bring good fortune.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Subal Kumar Choudhury, Laxmidhar Pati, and one other. Choudhury, posing as a journalist, is accused of being the ringleader of the scam.

According to reports, Choudhury masterminded the plan, selling the now-withdrawn Rs 2,000 notes on the black market. He convinced villagers in remote areas that the pink notes would remove obstacles and attract wealth and prosperity. Gullible buyers paid between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 per note.

The scam extended to Bhadrak’s Basudevpur area when Laxmidhar Pati of Baikunthapur village joined the racket after learning about Choudhury’s activities. Pati started selling the notes locally, but complaints arose when buyers saw no change in their fortunes. This led to a police complaint and subsequent investigation.

Basudevpur police, led by IIC Lopamudra Nayak, raided Baikunathapur and arrested Choudhury, Pati, and an accomplice. Officers seized 51 Rs 2,000 notes and 30 Rs 500 notes, totalling Rs 1.15 lakh.

Further investigations are ongoing to identify additional suspects involved in the racket.