The Cyber Crime Police in Bhubaneswar have arrested a 50-year-old man from Bihar for allegedly duping a city resident of ₹15.19 lakh by promising distributorship and franchise rights of reputed Tata Group companies. Investigators allege that the accused and his associates impersonated representatives of Tata Power Solar Systems Limited and Tata 1mg Health Care Solutions Private Limited, convincing the victim to transfer money in multiple instalments on the pretext of securing dealership and franchise approvals. Police said the promised business opportunities were never provided, following which the victim lodged a complaint and a cyber fraud investigation was initiated.
According to police, the accused has been identified as Dadhibal Kumar Singh, a resident of Saran district in Bihar. He was arrested in connection with Cyber Crime Police Station Case No. 43, registered on March 26, 2026, under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Following his arrest, the accused was produced before the competent court, while investigators continue to probe the involvement of other members of the alleged fraud network.
The complaint was filed by Bijan Kumar Mahapatra, who alleged that he was approached by individuals claiming to be authorised representatives of Tata Power Solar Systems Limited and Tata 1mg. According to investigators, the fraudsters initially contacted the victim through email and later continued communication via WhatsApp, presenting what appeared to be genuine business proposals for distributorship and franchise opportunities associated with well-known corporate brands.
Police said the accused and his associates allegedly persuaded the complainant to make a series of payments under different heads, including registration charges, agreement processing fees, stock purchases, additional inventory requirements and tax-related payments such as TDS. Investigators believe the staged payment demands were deliberately structured to create the impression of an authentic franchise approval process and to maintain the victim’s confidence throughout the transaction.
Believing the offers to be genuine, the complainant reportedly transferred money through NEFT from his wife’s bank account to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. According to the investigation, the victim paid ₹10.97 lakh for the purported Tata Power Solar distributorship and another ₹4.21 lakh for a supposed Tata 1mg franchise, taking the total amount transferred to ₹15,19,200. Despite repeated assurances, neither the distributorship nor the franchise was ever allotted.
When the promised approvals failed to materialise and communication with the alleged representatives became suspicious, the complainant realised that he had been deceived and approached the Cyber Crime Police. Based on the complaint, investigators analysed financial transactions, communication records and banking details before tracing the alleged money trail to Bihar. Police subsequently arrested Dadhibal Kumar Singh and are now examining whether additional bank accounts, digital identities or accomplices were used to facilitate the alleged fraud.
Investigators are also working to determine whether the accused targeted other aspiring entrepreneurs using similar methods by exploiting the reputation of established corporate brands. Digital evidence, including emails, WhatsApp conversations, banking records and electronic devices, is being examined to identify the complete network and establish the flow of funds. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that additional victims may have been defrauded through similar fake franchise offers.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said organised cyber fraud gangs increasingly misuse the names of reputed companies to gain the trust of victims seeking business opportunities. He noted that fraudsters often create convincing websites, forged documents, fake email addresses and professional-looking communication to make fraudulent franchise offers appear legitimate. According to him, forensic examination of digital communications, banking records, payment trails and electronic devices is essential for identifying all members of such networks and tracing the proceeds of crime. He advised prospective investors to verify franchise or distributorship offers directly through the official websites and authorised representatives of the concerned companies before making any payment.
Police said the investigation is continuing to identify all individuals involved in the alleged fraud, trace the remaining money trail and determine whether similar offences were committed in other states. Officials added that further legal action will be taken if additional evidence establishes the involvement of other suspects or organised cybercrime networks.
