Odisha man arrested for sexually assaulting woman after job fraud impersonation
Synopsis
A Bhubaneswar man exploited a job-fraud victim twice over — first by impersonating a police officer to lure her, then by allegedly sexually assaulting and blackmailing her at a Puri district hotel. The case exposes a predatory pattern where fraudsters use victims' own fear of police action as a weapon.
Key Takeaways
Himansu Samal , alias Jitu , 36, was arrested by Commissionerate Police, Bhubaneswar on 9 June 2025 .
He allegedly impersonated a Dhauli Police Station official to lure a 23-year-old woman who feared police action over a job fraud.
The victim's mother had paid ₹30,000 to a job fraudster; approximately ₹2 lakh in fraud proceeds was later deposited into the victim's bank account.
Samal allegedly checked the victim into an OYO hotel in Puri district , sexually assaulted her, recorded photos and videos, and subsequently blackmailed her.
A formal complaint was lodged at Dhauli Police Station on 7 June ; Samal was traced to a hideout and arrested the following Monday morning.
The original job fraudster remains unidentified and at large.
Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar on Monday, 9 June 2025, arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting and blackmailing a 23-year-old woman after impersonating a police official to exploit her fears over a job fraud inquiry. The accused, identified as Himansu Samal, alias Jitu, is a resident of the Badachana Police Station area in Jajpur district, confirmed Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena.
Background: How the fraud began
The sequence of events traces back to a job fraud. The victim's mother, who works as a cook in the Bharatpur area of Bhubaneswar, had allegedly paid ₹30,000 to an unidentified fraudster who promised to secure employment for her daughter. The fraudster failed to deliver and, according to DCP Meena, also transferred approximately ₹2 lakh from fraud proceeds into the victim's bank account — a tactic reportedly used by such fraudsters to implicate victims or launder money through their accounts.
Concerned about potential police action over the suspicious deposit, the mother and daughter turned to Samal, who was known to them, seeking his help in managing any inquiry that might arise.
How the accused exploited their trust
Samal allegedly used the family's vulnerability to set a trap. According to DCP Meena, he impersonated an official from Dhauli Police Station, used a police officer's photograph as his profile picture, and called the victim from an unregistered number on 5 June. He told her a complaint had been filed against them at Dhauli Police Station and directed her to appear there.
Acting on his instructions, the victim met Samal at Dhauli on 6 June. Instead of taking her to the police station, he allegedly checked her into an OYO hotel under Pipili Police Station limits in Puri district. After leaving and returning late at night, he allegedly persuaded her to stay overnight, forced her to pose as his wife or girlfriend, recorded photographs and videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her.
Complaint, arrest, and police action
The following morning, Samal dropped the victim near her hostel and allegedly threatened and blackmailed her using the recorded material. The victim disclosed the ordeal to her mother, and the two filed a formal complaint at Dhauli Police Station on 7 June. Police traced Samal to a hideout and arrested him on Monday morning.
DCP Meena noted that fraudsters frequently use victims' bank accounts to route illicit proceeds, compounding the vulnerability of those already cheated. This case highlights a pattern where job-fraud victims are targeted a second time by individuals who exploit their fear of police action.
What happens next
Samal faces charges of sexual assault and blackmail under applicable provisions of law. Investigators are also expected to probe his alleged impersonation of a police official — a separate offence under Indian law. The original job fraudster, who allegedly collected ₹30,000 from the victim's mother and transferred ₹2 lakh into the victim's account, remains unidentified and at large, according to police.
Point of View
Already financially and emotionally vulnerable, are being systematically re-targeted by predators who weaponise their fear of police involvement. The deposit of ₹2 lakh into the victim's account — a known tactic to implicate or coerce — went undetected until the assault was reported. That gap in financial monitoring and victim outreach is the systemic failure this case exposes. The impersonation of a police official adds a further layer: it erodes the very trust that victims need to report crimes in the first place.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Himansu Samal and why was he arrested?
Himansu Samal, alias Jitu, is a 36-year-old man from the Badachana Police Station area in Jajpur district, Odisha. He was arrested by Bhubaneswar's Commissionerate Police on 9 June 2025 for allegedly sexually assaulting and blackmailing a 23-year-old woman after impersonating a police official to lure her.
How did the accused exploit the job fraud to target the victim?
The victim's mother had paid ₹30,000 to a job fraudster who later transferred approximately ₹2 lakh in fraud proceeds into the victim's bank account. Fearing police action over the deposit, the family approached Samal for help. He allegedly used their fear to impersonate a cop, lure the victim, and then assault her.
Where did the alleged assault take place?
The alleged assault took place at an OYO hotel under Pipili Police Station limits in Puri district, Odisha, on the night of 6 June 2025, after Samal directed the victim to meet him at Dhauli under the pretext of a police inquiry.
When was the complaint filed and how quickly was Samal arrested?
The victim filed a formal complaint at Dhauli Police Station on 7 June 2025. Police traced Samal to a hideout and arrested him on the morning of 9 June — within approximately two days of the complaint.
Is the original job fraudster also in custody?
No. The original fraudster who collected ₹30,000 from the victim's mother and transferred ₹2 lakh into her account remains unidentified and at large, according to police. Investigators are expected to pursue that case separately.
