Serial Offender Re-Arrested for Fresh Bomb Threats Ahead of Rath Yatra in Puri

Bhubaneswar: A 31-year-old habitual offender, recently released on bail in a bomb threat case linked to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, has been arrested again for allegedly issuing fresh threats to trigger explosions during the upcoming Rath Yatra and target the Shankaracharya’s Govardhan Mutt.

The accused, identified as Pratik Mishra, has a criminal history spanning over a decade with at least 16 cases registered against him, mostly involving cheating, extortion, forgery, and cybercrime.

According to police sources, Mishra was initially arrested on January 25 for allegedly posting bomb threats targeting the Jagannath Temple through social media. During the investigation, it was revealed that he had created a fake online profile using a woman’s identity in an attempt to falsely implicate her in the case.

After being granted bail on April 10, Mishra allegedly resumed his criminal activities. Police said he created multiple WhatsApp groups under the same fabricated identity, added several prominent individuals, and issued fresh threats demanding extortion money amounting to lakhs.

Following complaints, four separate cases were registered against him at different police stations — Town Police Station (April 13), Baselisahi (April 17), Satyabadi (April 18), and Sea Beach Police Station (April 19) — for issuing threats through digital platforms.

Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh said that in one of the messages, Mishra demanded Rs 20 lakh from the Shankaracharya’s Govardhan Mutt, threatening to blow up the institution if the demand was not met. In another instance, he warned of bomb blasts during the upcoming Rath Yatra and at Balunkeswar Temple in the Satyabadi area.

Police officials suspect that Mishra may be mentally unstable, citing his repeated involvement in serious offences despite multiple arrests and legal interventions. His criminal record includes charges such as attempt to murder, theft, molestation, sexual assault, cheating, forgery, extortion, and cybercrime.

Earlier, on April 13, Mishra had also been arrested in Kendrapada’s Patkura area in connection with an extortion and abetment to suicide case. In that incident, the victim allegedly died by suicide after being falsely implicated in a fabricated rape case, reportedly orchestrated by Mishra and his associates, who demanded Rs 1 lakh to withdraw the complaint.

Investigators further revealed that in September 2019, Mishra had allegedly defamed two school teachers in Puri’s Balanga area by digitally morphing their photographs with that of a former minister.

Police said further investigation into the matter is currently underway.