Bhubaneswar: Saheed Nagar police Monday arrested a fake recovery agent for forcibly taking a vehicle and extorting money from a man.
The accused, identified as Deepak Kumar Baliarsingh (45) of Khurda district, targeted a vehicle bearing registration number 24 BH 2950 B, driven by a professional driver and financed by Union Bank, police said.
November 28, 2025, Deepak falsely introduced himself to the vehicle owner as a legal advisor of Union Bank and claimed the vehicle required urgent inspection.
Trusting him, the owner sent the vehicle to Bhubaneswar.
After the driver arrived, the accused took him to a secluded spot near Jayadev Vihar on NH-16 and demanded Rs 38,200 as alleged EMI dues and penalties, which the owner later paid. Later, Deepak demanded an additional Rs 30,000 to release the vehicle.
When the owner refused, Deepak reportedly threatened the driver, pushed him aside, forcibly snatched the vehicle’s key and fled from the spot.
Despite repeated requests by both the owner and the driver, Deepak refused to return the vehicle without the additional payment.
Left with no alternative, the driver approached the police and lodged a complaint. During the investigation, police seized a vehicle bearing registration OD 02 BD 1612 from Deepak.
In a subsequent raid, the hijacked vehicle was recovered from Bhavya Stockyard at Sisupalgarh under Dhauli Police limits.
Deepak also reportedly made a voluntary confession. Investigators found that Baliarsingh had been operating as a repo agent, misusing bank authority to illegally seize vehicles, extort money and intimidate owners and drivers.
Deepak was produced before the court, and further investigation is underway into the matter.