Bhubaneswar, April 3: The Sambalpur police in Odisha have arrested two employees of the Excise Department, including a retired Excise Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), in connection with a case involving large-scale embezzlement of government funds worth over Rs 3.67 crore between 2022 and 2025, said Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo, Superintendent of Police, Sambalpur district, on Friday.

The accused persons arrested in the fraud case have been identified as Sandeep Kumar Pattnaik, a junior assistant (currently under suspension), and Sarat Chandra Behera, a retired Excise ASI.

Meanwhile, the police sources also revealed that another accused in the case, retired Excise ASI Achyuta Dehury, is still on the run. Serious financial irregularities came to light during an audit of the Excise Department’s financial records by authorities, including the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Odisha.

Subsequently, based on a written report submitted by Ashok Kumar Seth, I/C Deputy Commissioner of Excise (Northern Division), Sambalpur, the Ainthapali police registered a case (73/26) on March 9 and launched an investigation into the massive fraud.

The cops, during investigation, found that multiple unauthorised sanction orders were generated through the IFMS portal in favour of the retired Excise ASI Achyuta Dehury, leading to excess withdrawal of pension and salary arrears between November 2022 and October 2025. The official records, such as bill registers and cash books, were also found to be manipulated and not properly maintained.

“During investigation, bank account analysis showed suspicious high-value transactions, including large cash withdrawals and transfers to associates, indicating misappropriation and diversion of Government funds,” the police also added.

The accused Pattnaik, who was dealing with establishment matters, was arrested by the cops on March 28 for his involvement in the misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs 3.67 crore.

The police also managed to arrest another accused, Behera, Retd. ASI, on March 31. The accused persons, by abusing their official position, allegedly manipulated financial records, generated fraudulent sanctions, and siphoned off Government money, causing wrongful loss to the State exchequer and corresponding gain to themselves.

The police have so far seized Rs 23,46,500 from the possession of accused Pattnaik, while another Rs 44 lakh from the total defrauded amount transferred to various accounts has been frozen by the police.

Mumbai: In a shocking incident, an attempt to illegally reoccupy three flats reserved for project-affected persons has come to light at the Shivshahi Rehabilitation Project in Maharashtra Nagar, Mankhurd. The Trombay police have registered a case against three individuals, including a 47-year-old woman, for illegal trespass and occupation.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Prasad Popat Doke, 33, serves as an Assistant Security Officer in the M-East Ward of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). He is responsible for overseeing security arrangements to prevent unauthorized entry into flats reserved for rehabilitation of project-affected persons.

The Shivshahi Rehabilitation Project comprises around 2,330 flats handed over by MHADA to the BMC in 2012 for rehabilitation purposes. Of these, 2,138 flats have already been allotted. Recently, between February 16 and 18, authorities had evicted illegal occupants from several units and sealed 20 flats under police protection.

However, the BMC later received information that three sealed flats Nos. 713, 715, and 716 in Building No. 11 had been unlawfully reoccupied.

During an inspection on March 27 around 7:30 pm, Doke, along with security personnel Sagar Kadam and Vishal Dethe, found the flats illegally occupied. Wahida Arafat Chaudhary was found residing in Flat No. 713, while Anis Alam Muklesh Shaikh and Nizamuddin Dagdu Momin were found in Flats No. 715 and 716, respectively.

Following the discovery, a complaint was lodged at the Trombay police station. The police have registered an offence under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, and have initiated further investigation.

Satara: A shocking case of marriage fraud has come to light in the state of Maharashtra, where a woman allegedly married several men and fled with cash and jewellery within days.

The accused, identified as Bhanupriya Bhaurao Bansod from Yavatmal district, is said to have cheated multiple grooms across different regions. She has created a sort of fear among families.

According to available details, Bansod married at least five to six men over a period of time. In each case, she reportedly stayed at her husband’s house for a few days to gain trust. Soon after, she escaped early in the morning, taking valuables from the house.

Victims claim they were left with no way to trace her, as the addresses and details provided were either fake or no longer valid. Police said that the woman gaslighted and manipulated men who were desperate to marry.

The case has raised concerns, especially in rural areas where marriages are often arranged through agents these days due to a lack of suitable matches.

Police sources suspect that such incidents are not isolated. Similar frauds have been reported from districts like Yavatmal, Beed, Latur, and Jalna, pointing towards the involvement of organised gangs.

In many cases, families pay large sums to agents to arrange marriages. However, the bride disappears soon after, leaving the groom and his family cheated out of it.

Victims often hesitate to file complaints, as the accused allegedly threatens to file false cases of harassment or assault against them.

One victim said he married Bansod, and she stayed at his home for eight days before fleeing with cash and jewellery. Later, he discovered she had married multiple times earlier.

There is now a growing demand for strict police action against such frauds. Authorities have urged people to verify backgrounds properly before marriage and avoid trusting agents without proper checks.