Cheating Case: Odisha STF Arrests Key Member of Fake RTI Activist Gang

Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police has arrested another individual linked to a fraudulent case involving a fake RTI activist. The arrested individual has been identified as Kanhu Charan Pradhan, a key member of a group that exploited individuals by posing as RTI activists.

Earlier, the STF had taken into custody a fake RTI activist named Kishore Mishra, along with others closely associated with the main culprit, Pradhan.

Pradhan, a resident of Tangi in Khordha district, currently residing in Bhubaneswar and holding a graduate degree, was previously involved in managing a liquor shop, as stated by the STF.

The arrest stems from a case initially filed at the Koraput Town Police Station on April 25 under sections 419, 420, 465, 468, 470, 471, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that Pradhan had a history of multiple cases against him, having engaged in fraudulent activities in at least four other instances.

Impersonating high-ranking officials within government departments, Pradhan exploited numerous individuals who had saved his contact under titles like “secretary” or “additional secretary.”

The STF has seized mobile phones, forged government notifications, orders, and other incriminating documents from Pradhan’s possession. The group is suspected of having promoted fake job advertisements in newspapers.

Reportedly, the mastermind behind the group had evaded authorities by fleeing to Thailand but recently returned to Odisha.

The group, operating in various locations across Odisha, utilized deceptive tactics involving cheating, impersonation, and thuggery. They established dummy bank accounts, some even using deceased individuals’ accounts. By altering their caller IDs to resemble senior officers’ numbers, the group exploited trust, especially when cross-checked on platforms like ‘Truecaller,’ according to the STF.