In Bhubaneswar, 32-year-old auto driver Rankanidhi Sahoo became the latest victim of mobile phone theft on May 19, 2025. The culprit, 28-year-old Mithun Paikray, stole Sahoo’s phone while he was ferrying passengers from Rasulgarh to Baramunda.
Paikray, a resident of Paikray Sahi, Baramunda, allegedly borrowed the phone under the pretense of making an urgent call and fled with it. Acting on a tip-off, Khandagiri Police raided Paikray’s residence on May 25, 2025, recovering the stolen phone along with 24 other Android mobiles.
During interrogation, Paikray confessed to multiple thefts. The case has been registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and remains under investigation.
Police records show Paikray has over 20 prior criminal cases, including theft, robbery, dacoity, and house-trespass, spanning various police jurisdictions such as Khandagiri and Info Valley. Notable cases include Khandagiri PS Case No. 221/2021 and Info Valley PS Case No. 225/2024.
Mobile theft remains a major concern in Bhubaneswar, especially affecting auto drivers like Sahoo, who frequently deal with strangers. Sahoo expressed relief over the recovery but called for stricter measures against repeat offenders like Paikray.
Authorities are also investigating whether the other seized phones are linked to additional thefts in the city.
