Daijiworld Media Network - Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Oct 5: The Commissionerate Police arrested two notorious interstate fraudsters impersonating officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) during a raid at a hotel in Bhubaneswar, Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh announced on Sunday.

The accused, Choudhury Rinku Saini (36) from Karnal and Maninder Singh (39) from Sonipat, Haryana, falsely claimed Saini was the chairman of a commission under the MHA, with Maninder as his personal assistant. They used forged letters and fake ID cards to impersonate senior government officials.

The police began investigating after receiving a suspicious communication that instructed authorities to provide pilot protection and security for the “National Chairman of Social Justice and Women Empowerment Commission”—a commission that does not exist under the MHA or the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Upon verifying with the government and receiving denial from the MHA, authorities tracked and arrested the duo.

Further inquiries with Haryana police revealed their involvement in several cheating cases there as well. A case has been registered at Maitri Vihar police station under charges of cheating and forgery.

The accused allegedly sent fake tour details via official government emails to secure escort and pilot services. The police have seized forged documents used in their scams and suspect the pair defrauded multiple individuals by claiming false authority.

Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of Police Jagmohan Meena urged anyone defrauded by the accused to contact their nearest police station for assistance.