Berhampur, July 16: Two retired Army personnel were arrested in Odisha's Berhampur for allegedly impersonating officers of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) using forged identity cards to influence government officials in a property dispute.

The accused have been identified as Pradeep Kumar Mandal of Ankuli in Berhampur and Durga Prasad Brahma of Brahmanatarang village under Palasa police limits in Andhra Pradesh. Both were arrested by Baidyanathpur police, Berhampur SP Dr. Saravana Vivek M. said in a press statement.

According to police, the duo had introduced themselves as intelligence officers before the Berhampur Sub-Collector and later visited the Vigilance office, claiming to represent IB and RAW. They subsequently met the Berhampur SP, where they again identified themselves as intelligence agents.

The SP, however, grew suspicious of their credentials and directed police to verify their identity documents. During the inquiry, officers found that the identity cards were forged. The two were then taken into custody and questioned.

Investigation revealed that the accused allegedly resorted to impersonation in an attempt to resolve an ancestral property dispute.

Police said Pradeep, while serving in the Army outside Odisha, was allegedly excluded from the ownership of his ancestral property by his brothers. His name was also omitted from the legal heir certificate. After returning to Berhampur, he made several attempts to reclaim his share of the property but failed.

Seeking a way to influence the authorities, Pradeep allegedly approached his friend Durga Prasad Brahma. The two then prepared fake identity cards, with Durga posing as a RAW officer and Pradeep claiming to be an IB officer.

Their plan unraveled when the Berhampur SP suspected their claims and ordered a verification of their credentials. During interrogation, the duo reportedly admitted that they had assumed false identities to secure a favourable resolution in the property dispute.

Based on a complaint filed by ASI Ananta Pradhan, Baidyanathpur police registered a case against the accused and arrested them. Further investigation is in progress.