Surya Badanayak : Job Scam: Man Arrested for ₹25L Fraud

Police have arrested Surya Badanayak, a resident of Malkangiri, for allegedly cheating job aspirants out of Rs 25 lakh. The man behind the scam, Ramachandra Darua, is currently on the run. The police have also seized an SUV that was purchased with the ill-gotten money.

Accused Identified as Surya Badanayak

The accused, Surya Badanayak, was apprehended on Friday for his involvement in a job scam targeting hopeful job seekers. The mastermind behind the operation, Ramachandra Darua, is still at large. Badanayak, a resident of Malkangiri, was found in possession of an SUV that was purchased with the money obtained through the deceitful scheme.

Teacher Turned Fraudster

Ramachandra Darua, the key figure in the scam, had been working as an assistant teacher in Palatpur Upgraded Middle English (UGME) School under Bari block in Jajpur district. For the past decade, he had been residing in a rented house in Palatpur village. It was during his time in Palatpur that Darua gained the trust of job seekers and made false promises of securing them government jobs.

Promises and Deposits

Darua enticed six individuals, four from Bari in Jajpur and two from Kendrapara district, with the promise of Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) positions in the Odisha government. The hopeful aspirants, believing in Darua’s claims, submitted their applications and were asked to deposit Rs 5 lakh each into Darua’s account. Over a three-month period from June to August last year, the victims collectively deposited Rs 25 lakh.

A Disappearing Act

When the results of the PEO examination were announced on December 8, the victims were shocked to find that their names were not on the selected list. They immediately demanded a refund from Darua, who initially assured them that their money would be returned. However, he soon vanished without a trace, leaving the disappointed job seekers in distress.

Complaints Lead to Arrest

Bibhuti Bhusan Jena from Palatpur was the first to file a complaint against Darua, stating that he had been cheated out of Rs 4.5 lakh. Following Jena’s complaint, five more victims came forward and lodged complaints at Bari police station, all alleging that they had been swindled by Darua. As a result of these complaints, the police initiated an investigation, leading to the arrest of Surya Badanayak.

Continuing the Investigation

Inspector-in-Charge Prakash Chandra Sahoo of Bari police station revealed that the funds deposited into Darua’s account were subsequently transferred to Badanayak’s account. The police have collected detailed information regarding Badanayak’s financial transactions and are actively pursuing Darua, the main orchestrator of the fraudulent scheme.