Bhubaneswar police exposed a forgery scam involving fake transfer orders bearing the forged signature of Odisha Assembly Deputy Speaker Bhawani Shankar Bhoi.
Two assistant engineers allegedly fabricated documents to secure postings of their choice.
Capital Police registered the case on June 11 after Deputy Speaker’s private secretary, Niranjan Kumar Sha, lodged a formal complaint. The accused, Monalisa Behera and Laxman Hembram, reportedly used forged signatures and official pads to prepare fake transfer orders. They attempted to move from Keonjhar district to Sundargarh’s Bargaon and Sadar blocks.
Police arrested Hembram and launched a search for Behera. Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena confirmed that a four-member special team is investigating the case and hinted that more officials might be involved. Investigators said the charges include cheating, forgery, and violations under the Information Technology Act. They are also probing how the accused obtained the Deputy Speaker’s official letter pad.
Authorities are examining whether similar fake documents were used for other transfers. The case has sparked widespread discussion among government circles, highlighting the growing concern over forgery and misuse of official documents in state offices. Police continue to trace the source of the forged materials and verify if other officials benefited from similar fraudulent transfers.
