Bhubaneswar, April 13: The arrest of Sheikh Imran from Bhubaneswar’s Unit-6 area has taken a serious turn, with investigators uncovering a suspected honey trap link and possible connections to radical groups.
According to sources, Imran’s life took a drastic shift after he failed his Class 10 examinations. He initially worked as a food delivery boy but later moved to Delhi in 2022 in search of employment. It was during his stay in the national capital that his behaviour reportedly changed significantly.
Investigations by the Delhi Special Branch reveal that Imran came into contact with a woman and allegedly fell into a honey trap. The woman is suspected to have introduced him to a radical network. Over time, he became an active member and was reportedly involved in spreading anti-national content through social media platforms.
A detailed analysis of his social media accounts—Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp—and Call Detail Records (CDR) has revealed several crucial leads. Authorities are now trying to identify the woman and ascertain whether Imran received any form of specialised training during his stay in Delhi.
The Odisha Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) has now taken over further investigation into the case. Acting on inputs from the Delhi Special Branch, the STF will focus on tracing missing links, particularly the suspected honey trap and financial transactions.
A special team led by STF SP Ravi Satpathy has been formed. Investigators will scrutinise the bank accounts of Imran, his father Sheikh Amir, and other close associates. Any suspicious transactions, especially those linked to sources outside the state or country, will be closely examined.
The STF is also collecting information from Imran’s friends to trace the identity and movements of the woman. Officials are probing whether she ever visited Bhubaneswar and if the two met in the city. They are also investigating whether any members of the suspected network travelled to Bhubaneswar to meet Imran.
In a related development, a SIM box was seized from Chandrasekharpur about a month ago, with two youths from Kerala detained. Investigators are examining whether Imran used such channels to communicate with extremist elements.
With concerns rising over the presence of similar sleeper elements in the capital, the STF has intensified efforts to uncover the larger network and prevent further spread of anti-national activities.
