In a significant development, the Bhubaneswar police arrested Satish Maharana, the operator of a self-drive car rental service, for allegedly cheating vehicle owners. Maharana, a resident of the Ghatikia area, was running a rental service named Speedo Ride along with an accomplice who remains at large. The accused was arrested after a complaint was lodged by Soumya Swagat Ray, a vehicle owner who claimed he had not been paid for months.
The scam unfolded when Ray, a resident of Mahakalpada, entered into a monthly agreement with Speedo Ride to rent out his Maruti Ertiga. Despite the rental service using the vehicle for several months, the company failed to pay the agreed rent. Ray, after being ignored for four to five months, demanded the return of his vehicle, but his requests were denied.
Unable to resolve the issue directly, Ray filed a complaint with the Bharatpur Police station on October 25. The police quickly launched an investigation and were able to seize five vehicles, including Ray’s Maruti Ertiga. According to Zone III ACP Tapas Pradhan, Maharana would rent vehicles, collect money from customers, but fail to make payments to the owners.
In addition to the arrest, the police are actively searching for Maharana’s associate who is believed to have been involved in the scam. The investigation continues as authorities aim to uncover more details of the fraudulent operation.
