Odisha Police Capture Gujarat Man in ₹7 Lakh Fraud Scheme

A 27-year-old man from Gujarat has been arrested by Odisha Police for allegedly defrauding an engineer out of ₹7 lakh. The accused, identified as Vishal Ramesh Bhai Makhvana, was taken into custody in his native village within Rajkot district before being transported to Bhubaneswar on transit remand. Following his arrival, he was presented before a court in Bhubaneswar on March 2, 2024.

The case began when the victim received a phone call from an individual posing as a representative of a courier company based in Mumbai. According to a senior police officer, the caller informed the engineer that a parcel had been booked in his name and was set to be sent to Iran. The caller further claimed that the parcel contained illegal drugs, escalating the situation with a connection to another person who identified himself as a police officer.

Jagmohan Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Bhubaneswar, detailed the tactics used by the fraudsters. The impersonating officer threatened the complainant with arrest and asset freezing, which prompted the victim to divulge his bank account details.

Upon discovering that the account held a minimal balance, the fraudsters pressured the complainant to obtain a loan using that account. Ultimately, the victim secured a loan of approximately ₹6.94 lakh and transferred the funds to various accounts controlled by the criminals.

After realizing he had been defrauded, the victim approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. This led to Makhvana’s arrest, with law enforcement officials now conducting a manhunt for additional suspects involved in the scheme.

The case highlights the growing prevalence of fraud schemes that exploit individuals through manipulation and deceit. Odisha Police are urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities immediately.