Bhubaneswar: A woman was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on Monday for allegedly using a novel method and duping rich businessmen, builders, mining operators, and high-profile people of crores of rupees in Bhubaneswar.
The accused, identified as Hansita Abhilipsa (38), allegedly defrauded the victims by identifying herself as an associate of top political leaders and bureaucrats.
Police also arrested her accomplice Anil Mohanty, believed to be her husband. The two reportedly ran an office on Infocity-Nandankanan Road. Claiming that she had close links with top leaders and officials in the state, she promised to secure tenders for the victims and extracted huge money.
Police said the two were arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by a mine owner.
Hansita adopted a unique modus operandi of digitally manipulating photographs with influential officials. She used these to approach her victims with false promises of getting their tender passed.
She used doctored images featuring prominent persons like the former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, to mislead and defraud her victims.
The woman allegedly convinced victims also posing as the wife of rich businessmen, bureaucrats, and politicians to defraud her victim. The two even falsely claimed to be relatives of P K Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. They used fake connections to deceive several people, promising to secure tenders and business deals in exchange for large sums of money.
Further investigation is in progress and the police are trying to gather more information about the accused and their network, a police official said.
