Odisha Vigilance and Rourkela Police arrested two men for impersonating Vigilance Officers and extorting money from a senior OAS officer.
The arrest took place on December 11, 2025, at Mendhamal in Biramaharajpur.
Officials identified the accused as Ganesh Prasad Nanda of Mendhamal village, Subarnapur district, and his relative Pradeep Kumar Panda. They extorted Rs 4 lakhs in two instalments by threatening to implicate the officer in vigilance cases. Nanda used multiple mobile numbers and displayed a fake Vigilance Officer identity on Truecaller to intimidate officials.
The duo targeted government officers with false allegations of bribery and misuse of funds. They demanded money to avoid raids and disproportionate assets searches. Odisha Vigilance received reliable inputs about their activities and launched surveillance.
A joint team tracked the accused and executed the arrest. Authorities registered a case at Bonai Police Station (No. 272 dated 11.12.2025) under sections 308(2), 318(4), 319(2) of BNS read with 66(c)(d) of the IT Act, 2005. The accused face charges of cheating, impersonation, and extortion.
The Vigilance Directorate confirmed that both men will face trial. Investigators continue to collect evidence and examine their methods. Officials stressed that impersonation of Vigilance Officers undermines public trust and damages governance.
The Odisha Vigilance crackdown highlights the state’s determination to protect officials from intimidation and extortion. The case reinforces the importance of vigilance in safeguarding integrity within public service.
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