Odisha: STF Likely To Take 3 Arrested In OTP-Sharing Scam On Remand

Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch is likely to take three arrested in OTP-sharing scam on remand to ascertain involvement of more persons.

Pathanisamant Lenka (35) of Itamati, who is a teacher at a private ITI, Saroj Kumar Nayak alias Amit (26) of Poibadi in Nayagarh district and Soumya Pattanaik (19) of Sujanpur in Jajpur district were arrested on Sunday for fraudulently procuring huge numbers of pre-activated SIM cards in others’ names and selling the OTPs to some Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIO) and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) agents in Pakistan and India. 19 mobile phones, 47 pre-activated SIM cards, 23 empty SIM covers and 61 ATM cards were seized from the trio.

They used to sell OTPs and links generated through the SIM cards to ISI agents in Pakistan and those operating in India for huge sums of money, STF inspector general of police (IGP) JN Panka told the media. “They were in touch with a female PIO agent who was arrested in a honey trap case from Rajasthan last year. These OTPs were used to create various accounts/channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, online shopping sites like Amazon and Flipkart and to create fake email accounts. Though these accounts are of Indian origin, they were actually operated from Pakistan,” he said.

The youngest of the trio, Pattanaik is allegedly the kingpin of the racket while ITI teacher Lenka and Nayak joined him last year. He joined the illegal trade after passing Class XII and earned Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 every month.

The agents use social media platforms for various anti-India activities like spying, communication with terrorists, radicalisation, running anti-India propaganda, fuelling anti-India/ divisive sentiments on social media, sextortion, honey-trapping, STF sources added.