Phulbani: Police in Kandhamal district have arrested a man who allegedly posed as a Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), extorted money from motorists and sexually exploited women by promising to marry them, police said Saturday.
The accused has been identified as Dharmendra Kumar Behera, alias Nikhil Kumar Patnaik, 30, of Totasahi village under Chakapad police station. According to police, Behera wore an MVI uniform and fitted his vehicle with an orange beacon light before stopping and checking vehicles in Chakapad and several parts of Ganjam district.
He allegedly collected money from motorists. Police also alleged that Behera targeted several women by promising marriage and claiming to have influence with senior government officials. He allegedly offered to arrange government jobs in return for money.
In one case, a woman who became acquainted with Behera about a year ago allegedly trans ferred Rs 7,18,851 to his account through PhonePe in several instalments between September 26 last year and January 20 this year.
The woman allegedly made the payments after Behera gained the trust of her family and promised to marry her. When she later asked him about the marriage and the money, he allegedly switched off his phone. The woman subsequently lodged a complaint at the Sarangada police station.
Police registered a case (132/26) and launched an investigation leading to his arrest.