In a disturbing case of financial fraud and betrayal of trust, Sai Prateek Das, an Assistant Executive Engineer with the Jajpur Irrigation Department, was arrested on July 29, 2025, by Sri Lingaraj Police in Bhubaneswar for allegedly cheating a colleague out of Rs72 lakh under the false promise of facilitating a land purchase.
The complaint, filed by Sanskriti Priyadarshani, also an Assistant Engineer in Jajpur, accuses Das of exploiting their professional relationship to gain her trust and convince her and her husband to invest in a land deal between 2021 and 2023. Das had promised to secure a plot in Bhubaneswar through a reputed builder for Rs75 lakh to Rs1 crore.
Convinced by his status as a government officer, Priyadarshani transferred Rs72 lakh in various installments via cash, bank deposits, and loans. However, once the amount was fully paid, Das reportedly became unresponsive and failed to deliver any land documents. When confronted, he allegedly issued death threats to her and her family.
A complaint was first filed in March 2025 at Kalinganagar Police Station (Case No. 102/25), following which a settlement was attempted. Das issued three cheques signed by his mother, Pratibha Mohanty, worth Rs72 lakh. All three cheques bounced. Das also reportedly forged RTGS documents showing a Rs2.5 lakh transfer that never reached Priyadarshani’s account.
Following his arrest, police are now investigating possible additional victims and whether Das used similar fraudulent tactics elsewhere.
