Odisha cyber fraud: Man arrested for cheating nurse of ₹15 lakh on matrimonial app
Synopsis
A 44-year-old Odisha man allegedly posed as a senior Chhattisgarh government officer on Bharat Matrimony, cheated a nurse of ₹15 lakh, forced her to open three bank accounts through which ₹13 lakh in loans were taken in her name, and may have run an interstate fraud network — with 12 of his accounts already frozen across multiple states.
Key Takeaways
Balabhadra Prasad Mishra, 44 , was arrested by Puri district police in Odisha on 19 October 2026 for allegedly defrauding a nurse of over ₹15 lakh .
Mishra allegedly posed as an Additional Secretary-rank officer in the Chhattisgarh Government on the Bharat Matrimony app.
The victim was allegedly forced to open three bank accounts (SBI, HDFC Bank, Indian Overseas Bank), through which loans of over ₹13 lakh were sanctioned in her name.
Police seized 14 bank passbooks , 9 cheque books , 17 debit/credit cards , 6 mobile phones , and ₹10,000 cash from the accused.
12 bank accounts of the accused have been frozen across various states, pointing to a suspected interstate fraud racket .
Prior fraud and forgery cases were already registered against Mishra in Sambalpur and multiple Bhubaneswar police stations.
Puri district police in Odisha on Monday, 19 October 2026, arrested a cyber fraudster for allegedly cheating a nurse of over ₹15 lakh by posing as an Additional Secretary-rank officer in the Chhattisgarh Government on a matrimonial app. Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh confirmed the arrest and outlined a pattern of deception that extended well beyond the initial fraud.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The accused, Balabhadra Prasad Mishra, 44, a resident of Matiasahi under Town police limits in Anugola district of Odisha, allegedly registered himself on the Bharat Matrimony app and introduced himself to the victim nurse as a senior government official. He reportedly cultivated a personal relationship with her over time, gaining her trust before exploiting it financially.
According to SP Singh, Mishra allegedly took money from the woman on the pretext of securing a government job for her sister. When the victim began to grow suspicious, he reportedly threatened to get her transferred to the KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region — a tactic investigators believe was used to intimidate her into silence.
Loans Taken in Victim's Name
The accused allegedly forced the nurse to open three bank accounts — with the State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and Indian Overseas Bank. Loans amounting to over ₹13 lakh were subsequently sanctioned in her name through these accounts, according to police. All the loan proceeds were allegedly withdrawn and used by Mishra himself.
'A few days later, the victim discovered that loans amounting to over ₹13 lakh had been sanctioned in her name through these bank accounts. All those loan amounts were withdrawn and utilised by the accused himself. Thereafter, she approached us and registered a case,' SP Singh said.
Lavish Spending and Seized Evidence
Police say Mishra spent the defrauded funds on purchasing a Toyota car and sustaining a lavish lifestyle, including hotel stays and air travel. During his arrest, investigators seized 14 bank passbooks, nine cheque books, 17 debit and credit cards, six mobile phones, and ₹10,000 in cash from his possession.
The case — registered as Case No. 31/26 at the Cyber Crime and Economic Offences Police Station, Puri on 13 October — followed a complaint lodged by the victim. Prior fraud and forgery cases had also been registered against Mishra at police stations in Sambalpur and at the Saheed Nagar, Airport, and Lingaraj stations in Bhubaneswar.
Suspected Interstate Racket
The scope of Mishra's alleged activities may stretch far beyond Odisha. Police revealed that 12 of his bank accounts have been frozen across various states, raising strong suspicion that he has been operating an interstate fraud network. 'We will delve deeper into the investigation, coordinate with other states, and ascertain where else and how many other women he has defrauded, how many states his activities span, and how many people he has duped,' SP Singh said.
This arrest is part of a wider surge in matrimonial app-based fraud cases across India, where perpetrators impersonate high-ranking officials or affluent professionals to gain victims' trust before extorting money. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to issue notices to banks across multiple states as they trace the full extent of the alleged racket.
Point of View
But individuals who forge identities, manipulate emotions, and use the victim's own financial infrastructure against them. The detail that 12 of Mishra's accounts are frozen across multiple states suggests this is not an isolated con but a structured operation, yet it took a single nurse's complaint to expose it. Banks' failure to flag simultaneous account-opening and rapid loan drawdowns across multiple institutions is a systemic gap that regulators have been slow to close. The real question is how many other victims have not come forward.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Odisha cyber fraudster cheat the nurse on a matrimonial app?
The accused, Balabhadra Prasad Mishra, allegedly registered on the Bharat Matrimony app posing as an Additional Secretary-rank officer in the Chhattisgarh Government, built a relationship with the victim nurse, and extracted money on the pretext of securing a job for her sister. He also allegedly forced her to open three bank accounts through which over ₹13 lakh in loans were taken in her name and used by him.
How much money was the nurse defrauded of in the Puri cyber fraud case?
The victim nurse was cheated of a total of over ₹15 lakh. Of this, loans amounting to over ₹13 lakh were sanctioned in her name through three bank accounts the accused allegedly forced her to open, and the remainder was taken under various pretexts including a promise to secure a job.
Does Balabhadra Prasad Mishra have prior criminal cases against him?
Yes. According to Puri SP Prateek Singh, cases of fraud and forgery had previously been registered against Mishra at police stations in Sambalpur and at the Saheed Nagar, Airport, and Lingaraj stations in Bhubaneswar. Additionally, 12 of his bank accounts have been frozen across various states.
Is the Odisha matrimonial fraud case linked to an interstate racket?
Police suspect so. With 12 of the accused's bank accounts frozen across multiple states, the Puri SP has said investigators will coordinate with other states to determine how many victims Mishra may have defrauded and how far his alleged network extends.
What evidence did Puri police seize from the accused?
Police seized 14 bank passbooks, nine cheque books, 17 debit and credit cards, six mobile phones, and ₹10,000 in cash from Balabhadra Prasad Mishra at the time of his arrest.
