Chhatrapur: Ganjam Cyber Crime and Economic Offences (CC&EO) police station Sunday arrested a 31-year-old man from Kandhamal district for allegedly helping defraud a widow of about Rs 60 lakh through a matrimonial website, while the prime accused remains at large, police said.
The accused, identified as Uttam Kumar Sahu of Tala sahi village under Chakapada police station limits in Kandhamal, allegedly assisted the prime accused in transferring the money through multiple transactions using mule accounts, Inspector-in-Charge Jyoti Ranjan Behera said.
According to police, the prime accused posed as Sai Krupa Das of Bhubaneswar and fabricated stories about his father’s illness and death, as well as his own battle with psoriasis, to gain the widow’s sympathy under the pretext of marriage.
During the investigation, police identified the suspect as Rakesh Rajput. Police said Rajput sent fake photographs, documents and medical reports to gain the woman’s trust.
He also falsely claimed that his account at a public sector bank had been frozen and that he urgently needed money.
Believing his claims, the woman arranged about Rs 60 lakh by taking gold loans and borrowing from family members and acquaintances.
She transferred the money in multiple transactions through accounts allegedly managed by Sahu, police said.
The woman later became suspicious and filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime and Economic Offences police station in Bhubaneswar.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Ganjam Cyber Crime and Economic Offences police station for investigation.
During questioning, Sahu allegedly confessed to his involvement and was produced before a court, Behera said.
Police seized multiple ATM cards, Rs 10,000 in cash and a smartphone from Sahu’s possession.
Efforts are underway to trace and arrest Rajput, the officer said.