Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested Rashmi Ranjan Dash, proprietor of RD Group of Company, from Odisha’s capital on Wednesday in a cheating case involving over Rs 1.18 crore.
Dash was arrested following a complaint filed by Antaryami Nayak, a retired employee of the State Bank of India (SBI) who lives in CDA, Cuttack. Nayak has alleged that Dash cheated him of over Rs 1.18 crore in a land deal involving a commercial plot measuring 4,000 sq.ft. at Hadiapatha, Cuttack, under the discretionary quota of CDA, Cuttack, by using forged seal and signature of Commissioner, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).
Between April and November 2021, Nayak paid the accused over Rs 1.18 crore. The probe found that the accused allegedly obtained the signatures of Nayak’s wife (the proposed buyer) on blank papers, including stamp paper, and later handed over Nayak an agreement purportedly with the seal of CMC, which was found forged, the EOW stated in a press release.
The accused told Nayak that the registration of the plot would be done on November 15, 2021 at CDA office, Cuttack, and before that he allegedly took the full amount of Rs 1,18,50,000 from Nayak. However, Dash did not turn up on that date.
During a search of the accused’s office in Maitri Vihar here, many incriminating documents and seals of different authorities, including the seal of CMC, Cuttack, were seized.
Some fake Identity Cards showing Dash as a gynaecologist of SCB Medical College & Hospital and BHMS doctor were also seized.
The EOW probe found that the accused had earlier been arrested in another fraud case, in which he cheated people by impersonating as a CBI officer and promising them jobs in the police or revenue department, among others.
