Fake CID Gang Busted in Bhubaneswar, 8 Arrested for Extortion

Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown, police in Bhubaneswar have arrested a group of individuals who allegedly posed as officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to extort money from educational institutions and business establishments.

According to reports, the accused would visit schools and colleges, falsely identifying themselves as CID officials. They allegedly intimidated authorities by pointing out supposed irregularities and demanded money in exchange for not taking action. Their activities extended beyond educational institutions, as they also targeted prominent business establishments using similar tactics.

The gang was caught red-handed outside a private educational institution in the Chandrasekharpur area. Police swung into action after receiving information that the group was threatening staff members and attempting to extort money.

A total of eight individuals, including four women, have been arrested and forwarded to court. The accused have been identified as Pooja Behera, Pratima Parida, Jenamani Pradhan, Saubhagya Sahu, Dharmendra Boitai, Manoj Kumar Mishra, Annapurna Panda, and Nilu Nayak.

Police officials stated that further investigation is underway to ascertain the full extent of the racket and to determine whether more individuals are involved in the operation.