A 47-year-old man, Byasadev Rana, was arrested for deceiving individuals by posing as a Section Officer of the Panchayati Raj Department. Rana, who hails from Narla in Kalahandi district, had been residing in the Ekamra area of Bhubaneswar for some time.
The accused used forged documents, including a fake identity card and pass that closely resembled legitimate government credentials, to gain unauthorized access to the Lok Seva Bhavan. Exploiting this false position, Rana promised government jobs in exchange for large sums of money.
One of his victims, a young man from Pipili in Puri district, was reportedly swindled out of Rs 20 lakh over a period of time. The victim had been promised a government job, but when Rana failed to deliver, he lodged a complaint with the Capital Police Station.
Acting on the complaint, the police launched an investigation and apprehended Byasadev Rana near the gate of Lok Seva Bhavan on Friday. After his arrest, he was presented in court, and the investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of his fraudulent activities.