In a dramatic turn of events, Odisha Police have arrested a 45-year-old man from Delhi who allegedly impersonated a senior National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer to sexually exploit a woman and manipulate her into filing a fabricated rape case against her friend.
The accused, Ashish Reddy, son of B. Reddy, was taken into custody by the Kharavelanagar Police Station team after his elaborate deception unravelled during the investigation of what initially appeared to be a shocking gang-rape incident.
It all began on April 27, 2026, when a woman from Kolkata lodged a complaint at Kharavelanagar Police Station (Case No. 344/2026). She claimed that a known acquaintance, Soma Mana, had called her to Bhubaneswar Railway Station that afternoon. While they were travelling in a car towards Puri-Konark Road, two unknown men allegedly entered the vehicle, sexually assaulted her, physically beat her, and later abandoned her near Konark.
However, as investigators dug deeper, serious inconsistencies emerged. A man identifying himself as NIA officer Ashish Reddy began contacting the complainant, closely monitoring the probe, and pressuring the Investigating Officer and the Inspector-in-Charge to take swift action against the alleged assailants.
His overzealous interference raised red flags. Police grew suspicious of Reddy’s conduct and subjected him to a thorough interrogation. What they uncovered was startling: Ashish Reddy was not an NIA officer at all. The identity card he proudly displayed was fake, and verification with the National Investigation Agency confirmed he had no connection with the central agency.
Further questioning revealed a darker story. The original complainant later submitted a fresh statement admitting that the sensational gang-rape allegation was entirely fabricated. According to her revised account (now registered as Case No. 356/2026), she had quarrelled with her friend Soma Mana in April. Seeking revenge, she came into contact with Ashish Reddy, who introduced himself as a powerful NIA officer and promised to help her teach her friend a lesson.
On May 19, Reddy allegedly received her at Bhubaneswar Railway Station. Over the next few days, he repeatedly established physical relations with her without consent on the pretext of providing “assistance” in the case. On May 20, he allegedly drafted a false FIR accusing Soma Mana and two unknown persons of gang rape, which the woman signed and submitted. The complaint was later transferred to Kharavelanagar Police Station.
Two fresh cases have now been registered against Reddy — Case No. 355/2026 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (including 204, 318(4), 319(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2)) read with Section 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act, and Case No. 356/2026 under Sections 64(2)(m) and 319(2) BNS.
During the raid and arrest, police seized a chilling arsenal from the accused: two sharp knives, one bhujali, a wooden stick, an extendable rod, a green T-shirt bearing a fake NIA logo, the counterfeit NIA identity card, a Bolero vehicle (TN-01-BP-7851), two Apple iPhones, multiple ATM and PAN cards, and gold and silver jewellery. Reddy reportedly gave varying addresses, all of which are under verification.
The case has sent shockwaves across Odisha and raised serious concerns about the misuse of fake central agency credentials to exploit vulnerable individuals and interfere in police investigations. Senior police officers have praised the Kharavelanagar team for their swift and meticulous probe that not only exposed the impostor but also prevented a potentially wrongful prosecution based on a fabricated complaint.
The investigation is ongoing, with police examining Reddy’s mobile phones and verifying his background and previous activities. The accused remains in custody as authorities continue to piece together the full extent of his alleged deception.
