Keonjhar, Jan 15: The Commissionerate police have arrested a man posing as a doctor in connection with a multi-lakh fraud case. The accused, Ranjib Kumar Pradhan (also known as Dr. Prakash Pradhan or Tushar Pradhan, 40), hails from Champua police station area. He was taken into custody by Pahala police and has been sent to jail custody after his bail application was denied.

According to police, in 2021, a woman shared her biodata on a marriage platform, after which Ranjib contacted her, presenting himself as Dr. Prakash Pradhan. He later involved his accomplice, introducing him as Tushar Pradhan, a deputy manager at SBI, Rayagada.

Over time, Ranjib maintained regular contact with the victim’s family, promising marriage. Using false pretexts, he cheated the victim’s father of Rs 23 lakh, claiming it was related to a petrol pump auction. Suspicious of the repeated delays in marriage proposals, the victim lodged a complaint at Pahala police station on October 27 last year.

Police investigations revealed that the accused had been using two mobile numbers from the same handset, both linked to him. Analysis of CDR/SDR records and bank accounts confirmed that he had intentionally deceived the victim’s family.

Following these findings, Ranjib was arrested and produced in court, and since his bail plea was rejected, he remains in jail custody.