An unusual and meticulously planned theft racket involving a father-in-law and his son-in-law has been uncovered in Odisha’s Bolangir district, police said. The duo was arrested after months of investigation, ending a series of high-value robberies that had puzzled authorities.
After nearly four months of sustained effort, Bolangir police apprehended the accused from the Kopu police station area in Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh. The arrests have brought relief to victims across multiple districts in Odisha.
The accused have been identified as Pramod Singh Nath and Prince Singh, who are related as father-in-law and son-in-law. Prince Singh, originally from Bihar, was staying at his father-in-law’s home, and together they allegedly executed thefts across the state.
CCTV footage played a key role in solving the case. Visuals showed the accused conducting reconnaissance outside banks, tracking individuals carrying cash, and later breaking into car boots to steal large sums.
SP Abhilash G of Bolangir Town Police Station said, “Our special squad arrested an inter-state robbery gang. Their modus operandi involved requesting people to withdraw money from banks, following them discreetly, and then stealing cash from their vehicles. One case was registered on June 5, 2025, followed by incidents on July 2 during Rath Yatra, August 4, and December 8.”
“The duo was also involved in two similar robbery cases in Kalahandi district, and their movements were traced in Nuapada. After committing the crimes, they deposited the stolen cash into relatives’ bank accounts using nearby cash deposit machines to evade detection,” SP Abhilash added.
Police said further investigation is ongoing to uncover any additional accomplices and trace all stolen funds.
