On May 1, 2023, the special task force (STF) of Odisha Police apprehended Manoj Kumar Majhi, a resident of Phulbari village under Krushnaprasad block in Puri district, for posing as a vigilance officer and extorting money from government officials. Majhi, who holds a Ph.D. from Sambalpur University and an MSc in chemistry, has been charged with cheating, forgery, and extortion.
According to sources, Majhi had extorted money from 15 officials, including engineers, senior administrative officers, and district-level officials, by posing as a senior vigilance officer. The accused was arrested after an additional chief engineer filed a complaint alleging that Majhi had demanded Rs 1 crore from him while posing as the superintendent of police (vigilance).
Following the complaint, STF officials raided the accused’s residence and arrested him. During interrogation, Majhi confessed to trying to extort money from various government officials and contractors by posing as a senior vigilance officer. The investigation also revealed that Majhi had cheated some individuals by promising to arrange government jobs.
A senior STF official stated, “Further probe is underway.” The accused has been remanded to judicial custody, and the investigation is ongoing. The arrest of Majhi highlights the need for stringent measures to combat such fraudulent activities and to protect the interests of the common people. The authorities must take adequate measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
