Bhubaneswar: A high-profile fraudster has reportedly been held in the capital city of Odisha on Friday for duping 2 engineers of Rs 1 crore and 5 lakh. The Crime Branch of Odisha arrested the accused. DG of Odisha’s Crime Branch Vinaytosh Mishra informed in detail about the fraudster and the crime he committed in details at a press meet in Bhubaneswar. The accused has been identified as Bishnu Prasad Patnaik alias Biranchi Patnaik of Begunia area of Khordha district. As per reports, the accused defrauded two engineers of more than one crore rupees. An aeronautical engineer, who had obtained an aeronautical engineering degree from Coimbatore was cheated of Rs 90 lakhs by promising to provide him with a high salary. He cheated him by promising to provide him with jobs by making fake offer letters and appointment letters in British Airways and Lufthansa Airways. Similarly, in another case, he had duped another degree holder of Rs 15 lakh by promising him a job abroad. After complaints lodged, charge sheet was filed in this matter while the accused was absconding. Bishnu Prasad used to dupe people by impersonating himself as a doctor, professor, engineer etc. He used to prepare fake offer letters and appointment letters in the name of international companies. He also used to make fake residential certificates, driving licenses etc. to hide his true identity. While the investigation was going on, the accused fled to Cambodia and concealed his identity by making a second passport. A lookout circular was issued against him on January 17, 2019, which was also in force in 2020. He is also accused of cheating in Rayagada district, Visakhapatnam, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar and other places. He last visited Odisha in 2023. After receiving information that he had returned to India in May 2025, the CID Crime Branch team kept an eye on him. He was arrested from Bhubaneswar based on technical and human intelligence.
Bhubaneswar: High-profile fraudster held for duping 2 engineers of Rs 1.05 crore
