Journalist and Woman Police Officer Arrested in Odisha Kidnapping Case
· India · Hindustan Times, NDTV, The Independent
A 62-year-old businessman, Narendra Sahu, was rescued by police in Bhubaneswar after being kidnapped from Balangir on August 14. Authorities have arrested several individuals, including a journalist and a woman police sub-inspector, for orchestrating the abduction. The accused allegedly held Sahu at gunpoint, forced him to record staged videos, and attempted to extort money using a fabricated assault complaint. The kidnapping was reportedly linked to a dispute over a mythical 'Hanuman paisa' coin, which fraudsters claim possesses supernatural wealth-generating properties. Police officials stated that they have found no evidence to support the main accused's claim that he paid Sahu ₹2.7 crore for the coin in 2020.
Why it matters
This case exposes the persistent danger of 'Hanuman paisa' fraud rackets in Odisha, which continue to exploit public superstition to facilitate violent criminal activities, including kidnapping and extortion.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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