Fraud Case Involving Fake Doctor in Bhubaneswar

Overview of the Incident

In an alarming case of fraud, a man masquerading as a doctor at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Manamunda has reportedly defrauded a woman and her family of Rs 22.70 lakh. He falsely promised to marry the woman, claiming that the funds were required for various investments.

Building Trust and Executing the Deception

The accused gained the trust of the family by making false assurances. He solicited money under the guise of marriage plans and fictitious investment schemes, including Covid-19 senior citizen policies, departmental training programs, and petrol pump dealership auctions. The fraudulent activities began in 2021 when he created a fake profile on a matrimonial website, identifying himself as Dr. Prakash Pradhan, a supposed medical professional.

Introduction of a Fake Identity

According to police reports, the accused later adopted another false identity, claiming that his younger brother, Tushar Pradhan, held the position of Deputy Manager at the State Bank of India (SBI) in Rayagada. By presenting these fabricated identities, he convinced the woman’s family of the legitimacy of the marriage proposal and his background from a well-educated family.

Financial Transactions and Family’s Suspicion

After earning the family’s confidence, the accused persuaded the woman’s father to transfer money for his investment schemes. Between June and December 2021, the family transferred a total of Rs 22.70 lakh. However, once the money was received, the accused ceased responding to calls and messages, raising suspicions within the family.

Legal Action Taken

Unable to recover their money, the family approached the police to file a complaint, as reported by Odisha Bytes Media. Following the investigation, authorities verified information with the SBI Rayagada branch and the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Manamunda, discovering that no such individuals were employed there.

Further Investigations

Subsequent financial investigations revealed that the accused had used his father’s bank account to receive the embezzled funds and employed multiple identities to carry out the fraud.