Bhubaneswar, April 15: Bhubaneswar Court on Wednesday convicted seven individuals on Wednesday for their involvement in sharing sensitive national information with a suspected Pakistani agent through OTP-based fraud. Each of the convicted individuals received a sentence of three years in prison after the court reviewed extensive evidence presented during the trial.
The individuals convicted include Pathani Samanta Lenka, Abhijeet Sanjaya Jambure, Mohammad Ikbal Hussain, Pritam Kar, Soumya Ranjan Pattanayak, Pradyumna Sahu, and Saroj Nayak. Investigators revealed that at least two of the accused, who were based outside the state, played pivotal roles in coordinating with a Pakistani agent, allegedly orchestrating the illegal operation.
The case was first uncovered by the Special Task Force (STF), which apprehended the main accused, Pathani Samanta Lenka, in Nayagarh on May 12, 2023. Further investigations unearthed financial transactions and connections to foreign operatives, leading to the arrest of the remaining accused individuals.
Rashmi Ranjan Brahma, Special Public Prosecutor, who was conducting the case, said that the convicted group had procured multiple SIM cards and shared OTPs with foreign agents. These OTPs were subsequently used in activities that posed a threat to national security. The verdict highlights the increasing risks associated with cyber-enabled threats and emphasizes the critical importance of safeguarding digital communication systems.
