A 32-year-old auto driver, Rankanidhi Sahoo, became the latest victim of mobile theft in Bhubaneswar when his mobile phone was stolen by a passenger, Mithun Paikray, on May 19, 2025.
The incident occurred while Sahoo was ferrying passengers from Rasulgarh to Baramunda. Paikray, a 28-year-old resident of Paikray Sahi, Baramunda, allegedly borrowed Sahoo’s phone under the pretence of making an urgent call. He then fled with it.
Following a tip-off, Khandagiri Police conducted a raid on Paikray’s residence on May 25, 2025. They apprehended him and recovered the stolen phone along with 24 other Android mobile phones. During interrogation, Paikray confessed to the mobile theft. Thus, the case, registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for theft, remains under investigation.
Mithun Paikray is no stranger to law enforcement, with a long history of criminal activity. Police records reveal over 20 prior cases against him. This includes charges of theft (Sections 379, 380 IPC), robbery (Section 392 IPC), dacoity (Section 395 IPC), and house-trespass (Section 457 IPC). These incidents span across Khandagiri, Nayapalli, Badagada, and Info Valley police stations. Notable cases include Khandagiri PS Case No. 221/2021 for robbery and Info Valley PS Case No. 225/2024 under BNS for similar offences.
Bhubaneswar mobile theft cases often involve individuals with such profiles, and authorities are now probing whether the seized phones are linked to other thefts in the city.
The incident has raised concerns among Bhubaneswar’s auto drivers. They often interact with strangers and are vulnerable to such crimes. Sahoo, a resident of Pandra, expressed relief at the recovery of his phone. However, he urged for stricter measures to curb repeat offenders involved in mobile theft.
