Sister Of Odisha’s ‘Fake Doctor’ Arrested; Raid On Farm In Athagarh & Other Places Continues Amid More Plaints Of Fraud

Bhubaneswar/Kendrapada: The Commissionerate Police on Wednesday arrested Rashmita Beura, the sister of Odisha’s ‘Don Juan’ Ramesh Swain.

“His sister is hand-in-glove in almost all his fraudulent activities. Evidence was found from their video conference call,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Umashankar Dash.

During interaction with some of the women whom he had cheated, police had also learnt that Rashmita was present during the weddings, he said, adding that her husband is absconding.

The DCP further informed that the farmhouse at Khamar Nuagaon in Khuntuni area of Athagarh, which a police team raided this morning, was registered in the name of Swain’s second wife. The raid followed interrogation of his sister, who was brought to Bhubaneswar for questioning on Tuesday, suspecting her involvement in the fraud committed by her brother.

The farmhouse is spread over 15 acres and Swain had reportedly planted saplings as well as trees worth Rs 4.5 lakh which he had procured from a businessman in Andhra Pradesh. The businessman of East Godavari had lodged a complaint with the police on Tuesday, alleging that Swain had duped him of Rs 4.5 lakh by giving a fake cheque, the DCP said.

He had given another fake cheque of Rs 65,000 to the truck driver, who brought the saplings to Bhubaneswar, he added.

His mother Gauri Swain and brother Umesh were also questioned by the police at Derabis under Hindol panchayat in Dhenkanal district. During interrogation, police learnt about a secret room, which is located a few metres away from the house at Bhagabanpur. Mother and brother, however, denied having any links with his multiple marriages.

Swain also had a poultry farm where several expensive machines were found hidden. The machines were brought from Kolkata after furnishing blank cheques, said police.

Notably, a businessman from West Bengal had lodged a complaint with Mahila Police on Sunday, alleging that Swain had taken a hatching machine worth Rs 1 lakh from him but did not pay for it.

While the five-day remand of Swain ended on Wednesday, the DCP said they would seek his further remand for seven days to question him about several other fresh allegations. A man from Jharsuguda has also alleged that he took Rs 18 lakh from him to help him get admission into AIIMS.

Swain was arrested on February 14 for allegedly conning 14 women into marriage through matrimonial sites and swindling their riches by posing as a doctor working with the central government.