Cuttack, July 20: Police have arrested Shashadhar Panda, a resident of Dhusuri in Odisha's Bhadrak district, in connection with an alleged land fraud case, with investigators claiming that he cheated victims of more than ₹10 crore by assuming multiple identities.

According to police, Panda, who had been residing in the CDA area of Cuttack, allegedly posed as a Block Education Officer (BEO), a railway official, a prominent businessman, and a social worker to gain the confidence of unsuspecting individuals. Once trust was established, he allegedly lured victims with promises of lucrative land deals and investment opportunities before defrauding them of large sums of mony.

The latest action followed a complaint lodged at Mangalabag Police Station in Cuttack, where Panda was accused of cheating a complainant out of ₹20 lakh in a land transaction. His arrest has reportedly led to the emergence of several additional complaints from alleged victims across the state.

Police say Panda's alleged fraud network extended across multiple districts, including Balianta, Balasore, Puri, Paradip, and Bhadrak. Investigators have identified several cases in which he allegedly duped victims of substantial amounts, including ₹2.24 crore in Balianta, ₹64 lakh in the Bhadrak Rural police jurisdiction, and ₹58 lakh in Nimapada. Complaints have also been registered at Bhadrak Town and Bandhamunda police stations, while the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is investigating an alleged fraud of ₹3.5 crore linked to the accused.

Officials further stated that Panda had previously been arrested and produced before courts in multiple cases but allegedly continued his fraudulent activities after securing release.

With complaints continuing to surface, Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) has appealed to anyone who believes they may have been defrauded by the accused to approach the police and file a complaint as the investigation continues.