Fake CMO official dupes govt engineer of Rs 2 lakh, demands more; complaint filed in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, June 6: A government engineer has fallen victim to a serious case of impersonation and extortion, prompting a formal complaint with the Airfield Police Station in Bhubaneswar.

The complainant, Pratap Kumar Haripal, Superintending Engineer of the Roads and Buildings Division in Angul, alleged that a man posing as a senior official from the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) cheated him of Rs 2 lakh.

According to the complaint, the accused, identified as Janaki Ballav Mohapatra, contacted Haripal about a month ago. Claiming to be a CMO official, Mohapatra warned him that he was about to be transferred to the remote district of Malkangiri. To stop the transfer, he allegedly demanded Rs 2 lakh. Fearing the repercussions, Haripal visited Mohapatra’s residence in Bhimtangi, Bhubaneswar, and handed over the money.

However, the ordeal did not end there. Mohapatra later demanded an additional Rs 5 lakh. When Haripal refused, the accused allegedly abused and threatened to kill him.

Left with no option, Haripal approached the police and filed a formal complaint. A case has been registered, and investigations are underway to trace the accused and verify the extent of the fraud.