Puri Police arrested a man accused of posing as a government officer and obtaining loans worth over ₹13 lakh in a woman’s name.
How Did the Accused Target the Woman?
The accused, identified as Balabhadra Prasad Mishra, allegedly met the woman through a matrimonial application and presented himself as an Additional Secretary in the Chhattisgarh government. Police said Mishra gained access to the woman’s banking information and allegedly used her identity to obtain loans exceeding ₹13 lakh.
The alleged fraud came to light when the woman discovered the loans and approached the Puri Cyber Crime Police Station on October 13. Following her complaint, police began investigating the financial transactions and Mishra’s alleged involvement.
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How Were the Loans Obtained?
According to investigators, Mishra opened three bank accounts in the woman’s name with the State Bank of India, HDFC Bank and Indian Overseas Bank. He allegedly linked his own mobile number to the accounts and took possession of her passbooks, cheque books, debit cards and credit cards.
The woman subsequently discovered that loans exceeding ₹13 lakh had been obtained in her name and that the accused had withdrawn and used the money. Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh confirmed that the complaint led to the registration of a case against Mishra.
What Did Police Recover?
During the investigation, police seized ₹10,000 in cash, a car, six mobile phones, 14 passbooks, nine cheque books and 17 debit and credit cards from the accused. Investigators also recovered a rubber stamp bearing the designation of Additional Secretary to the Chhattisgarh government.
The seized documents and electronic devices form part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged financial fraud.
Did the Accused Have Previous Cases?
Police said Mishra had previously faced fraud and forgery cases registered in Sambalpur and at Saheed Nagar, Airport and Lingaraj police stations in Bhubaneswar. Singh confirmed the existence of these earlier cases while discussing the accused’s background. Puri Police have arrested Mishra and are continuing their investigation.
The420 Insight: The case highlights how false professional identities on matrimonial platforms can be used to gain trust and access sensitive banking information. The alleged misuse of multiple bank accounts also raises concerns about identity verification during financial transactions.
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