Bhubaneswar: The Government Railway Police (GRP) Tuesday arrested Utpal Ranjan Behera (30) of Jagatsinghpur on charges of cheating three jobless youth.
Ranjan is accused of taking `3 lakh fraudulently from Akshaya Kumar Rout, Sudeep Kumar Mallick and Ramakanta Swain of Athagarh. Utpal was working as an operator of automatic ticket vending machine (ATVM) at booking office of Bhubaneswar railway station. The machine was allotted to PNV Rao, a retired railway employee, who had reemployed Utpal to sell tickets in violation of the conditions of ATVM licence.
While working as the salesperson, Utpal came into contact with the victims three months back and promised to offer them railway jobs. The trio thought Utpal was a genuine railway employee and paid him money. Utpal is also reported to have issued fake appointment letters to the three and told them to wait for a call from the railways.
After waiting for several days when they did not get any call from railways, the three called Utpal who advised them to wait with patience. After some time he switched off his phone before he fled the workplace.
When the victims approached the GRP Bhubaneswar last week, they were advised to file a complaint. Consequently, GRP personnel registered cases under section 420/465/470/471 of IPC against the accused.
GRP officer in-charge Saubhagya Kumar Swain said the accused was arrested Wednesday and seized several fake appointment letters from his possession. He was produced in a court here.
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