Pics with fraudsters: Five Inspectors under scanner

BHUBANESWAR: Five inspector-ranked officers, all posted in Cuttack Urban Police District (UPD) of Commissionmerate Police, have found themselves embroiled in controversy after their pictures with two fraudsters went viral on social media prompting Police Commissioner YB Khurania to order an inquiry.

Cuttack DCP Sanjiv Arora has been directed to probe into the matter. The officers - Bimal Barik, Ranjit Prusty, Debi Patra, Biswajit Mohanty and Sunil Mohanty - were also posted in Bhubaneswar UPD in the past. Their photographs with Pramod Dora and Prabhat Muduli, both of whom are now lodged in Special Jail, Bhubaneswar after being arrested in cheating cases, has snowballed into a controversy.

Dora was arrested on August 16 in connection with a case registered with Khandgiri Police whereas Muduli was nabbed on September 11 by Laxmisagar Police. The duo is charged with duping over a million rupees from people posing as top executives of private companies. At least three cases are booked against them in Bhubaneswar.

While the aggrieved parties have been seeking refund of their money, pictures of the two accused with police officers led to outrage. Some of the complainants also staged a demonstration and met Khurania and apprised him of the cases on Thursday.

The Police Commissioner said the matter is being inquired into. "We will find out when the pictures were taken and posted on the social media. The investigation will ascertain if the officers in question have any culpability," he added.

Currently, Barik is posted at Markat Nagar Police Station while Debi Prasad Patra is posted at Malgodown Police Station. Similarly, Biswajit Mohanty and Sunil Mohanty are posted at Cantonment and Traffic Police Stations respectively. Prusty is placed at DCP Office.

In the pictures, the officers are seen at tourist places across the country including Taj Mahal.

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