A 23-year-old woman, who had been cheated in a job fraud, became the victim of a sexual assault after a driver she knew exploited her vulnerability. The accused, identified as Himanshu Samal alias Jitu (36), was arrested by the Bhubaneswar police on Monday for allegedly raping the woman in Puri district on Saturday.
Background of the Case
According to police officials, the woman, a resident of another district, had contacted Samal several months ago seeking assistance in finding employment. Samal, who was acquainted with her and her mother, introduced her to a friend who promised her a job as a receptionist at a private company in Bhubaneswar. The woman paid Rs 30,000 to the friend for the job, but when the promised position never materialized, she demanded her money back.
To regain her trust, Samal transferred nearly Rs 2 lakh into her bank account, claiming that he was temporarily parking his own funds there due to technical issues with his account. However, this unusual transaction left the woman anxious about potential legal repercussions.
Exploitation of Fear
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena stated, “The unusual transaction left the woman anxious about possible legal trouble. Exploiting her fear, Samal called her from an unknown phone number and posed as an officer from Dhauli police station, asking about the transaction.” Panic-stricken, the woman turned to Samal for help. Pretending to have contacts in the Dhauli police, Samal offered to accompany her to the police station.
On Saturday, instead of taking her to the police station, Samal drove her to a hotel in Pipili, Puri district, claiming that a police officer would meet them there. Under various pretexts, he persuaded her to stay overnight and raped her that night. The next morning, he dropped her back in Bhubaneswar and warned her not to report the crime.
Arrest and Investigation
The woman lodged a complaint on Sunday, and Samal was arrested on Monday. DCP Meena said, “Though the incident took place in Puri district, we registered the case in Bhubaneswar considering the sensitivity of the matter and the rape survivor’s plight. The accused was arrested without delay.”
Police suspect that Samal and his associate, who is currently on the run, may have duped others with similar false job promises. Investigations are ongoing to identify other potential victims.
