Police in Berhampur arrested a 28-year-old man on Saturday for allegedly extorting money by impersonating the personal assistant of BJP national president Nitin Nabin. The accused, identified as Jagannath Mandal, a resident of Panchama under Golanthara police station in Ganjam district, allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from a complainant on April 1 through WhatsApp for party work.
Threats and Complaints
Mandal allegedly threatened to lodge a complaint against the complainant with the local MLA if the payment was not made. The complainant, who works under Chikiti MLA Manoranjan Dyansamantara, reported the matter at the Town police station on Friday. A similar complaint was also lodged by another individual at the Bada Bazaar police station.
According to police, the caller claimed to be the PA of the BJP national president and demanded Rs 50,000 for party work. When questioned about his identity, the caller allegedly threatened to file a false complaint with Nitin Nabin. Based on the complaints, police registered cases against Mandal at both Bada Bazaar and Town police stations.
Previous Criminal Record
SP (Berhampur) Saravana Vivek M stated that a preliminary probe revealed Mandal had been arrested on December 13, 2024, in a cheating case. He resided interchangeably in Surat, Gujarat, and Berhampur, and was engaged in fraudulent activities, including making hoax calls to political workers while impersonating personal assistants of prominent political figures.
Police Advisory
Police advised the public to remain vigilant against impersonation and fraudulent calls. They urged people to verify the identity and credentials of anyone claiming to represent political leaders, parties, or government officials before responding to financial demands or sharing sensitive information. Any suspicious calls of this nature should be reported to the nearest police station immediately, the SP added.
