BHUBANESWAR: Police have arrested two Haryana natives for allegedly posing as officials of the Union government and seeking security (escort and pilot vehicles) during their two-day visit to Odisha.
The accused, Choudhury Rinku Saini (36) of Karnal district and his associate Maninder Singh (39) of Sonipat district were apprehended on Saturday. Police said prime accused Rinku claimed he was the national chairman of the Social Justice and Women Empowerment Commission, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Rinku had reportedly sent emails to various departments and senior officials of Odisha through an ID officesocialjusticecommission@gmail.com mentioning that he along with his personal assistant Maninder would be arriving at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here from New Delhi on October 3 (Friday) morning. The mails detailed Rinku’s itinerary including his plans to visit Lingaraj temple and other shrines in Old Town area on Friday, and the Shree Jaganath Temple and Konark Sun Temple the next day. It was also mentioned that Rinku and Maninder would return to New Delhi on October 4 (Saturday).
The Home department, however, found these mails to be suspicious. On carrying out a preliminary inquiry, the department officials found out that there was no such commission under the Ministry of Home Affairs or Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Subsequently, they alerted the Commissionerate Police and directed it to check the credibility of Rinku. After the duo arrived in the city and checked into a luxury hotel under Maitri Vihar police station, the investigators interrogated both of them. Police then recovered fake identity cards and forged documents from Rinku.
Sources said the cops are investigating whether the duo visited the state to cheat youths on the promise of providing them government jobs. “A case was registered against the two and they were apprehended. Further probe is underway to find out if they have duped any youths here on the promise of providing them jobs,” said Maitri Vihar IIC, Rabinarayan Behera.
Sources said Rinku is a farmer and police are investigating how he maintained such an extravagant lifestyle.