OTP-Sharing Scam: NIA Team Arrives In Bhubaneswar; Accused Abhijeet Admits Sending Money To Mastermind

By OB Bureau On Jul 10, 2023

Bhubaneswar: Amid the ongoing investigation and interrogation of OTP-sharing scam accused in Odisha, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team arrived in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, Intelligence Bureau, and the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police are already grilling Abhijeet Sanjay Jambure, arrested on June 29 from Pune and brought to Bhubaneswar on transit remand for allegedly sharing OTP with Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIO). It is being alleged that he had links with a Pakistani agent since 2020 and was sending money to other arrested accused. including Pathanisamanta Lenka, of Odisha.

Lenka is said to be the mastermind of the fake SIM cards and OTP-sharing scam in the state.

While Abhijeet has admitted to having sent money to Lenka, he refuted links with Pakistani agents. “I had sent Rs 550 to Pathanisamant Lenka once. I do not know who Danish and Khuram are. The allegations are baseless,” he told the media.

STF SP KK Panigrahi, however, said that the accused had links with ISI and some Nigerians. “It is a serious matter. Terrorist links and terror funding aspects are being probed as well. Abhijeet was sending money to different PIO agents. He had sent money to Lenka on multiple occasions.” he said, refusing to divulge further details.

According to STF, Abhijeet met one Danish alias Syed Danish Ali Naqvi of Khanki, Faislabad, in Pakistan through Facebook Messenger, who identified himself as Freelancer at ‘Chegg’ in 2018. Danish later introduced him to his friend Khurram alias Abdul Hamid of Karachi. Khurram is suspected to be a senior Pakistan Army intelligence officer having a big network of agents in India. Abhijeet used to transfer money to various agents working in India on the instruction of Khurram. He spoke to at least seven Pakistan citizens and 10 Nigerian Citizens through WhatsApp, it added.

Notably, six persons have so far been arrested in connection with the scam.