Odisha job fraud: Man arrested for duping aspirants of ₹43 lakh
Synopsis
A Bhubaneswar man was arrested for allegedly swindling over ₹43 lakh from job seekers by posing as a placement facilitator for government schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana. Victims waited nearly two years for jobs that never came — and were threatened when they demanded refunds.
Key Takeaways
Debasish Das , 36, was arrested by Commissionerate Police, Bhubaneswar on 16 June 2025 .
He allegedly cheated multiple job seekers of ₹43,33,000 deposited in instalments via WhatsApp -shared bank accounts.
Victims were lured through a Google advertisement in 2023 with promises of private and government-scheme placements, including under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana .
Co-accused Jyotiranjan Paikray remains absconding; police are actively searching for him.
Das was produced in court and remanded to judicial custody .
The Commissionerate Police, Bhubaneswar on Monday, 16 June arrested Debasish Das, 36, on charges of cheating multiple job seekers out of over ₹43 lakh by falsely promising employment through private companies and government schemes. The arrest came two days after a formal case was registered on 14 June, following a complaint by one S Kahna Achari of Ganjam district.
How the Fraud Unfolded
According to the complaint, Achari first encountered a job-related advertisement on Google in 2023 and subsequently contacted Das through the phone number listed in the ad. Das allegedly assured him of placements with private firms and under government welfare initiatives, including the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana.
Das then introduced Achari and his job-seeking friends to a second accused, Jyotiranjan Paikray. Through repeated assurances, the two men reportedly won the confidence of the victims, who then deposited a total of ₹43,33,000 in instalments into bank accounts shared by the accused via WhatsApp.
Two Years of Broken Promises
Despite waiting for nearly two years, neither Das nor Paikray delivered any employment to the complainant or his associates, according to the police complaint. When the victims demanded either the promised jobs or a refund, the accused allegedly refused to return the money.
The fraudsters also reportedly subjected the complainants to verbal abuse and issued threats of 'dire consequences' if they persisted in seeking their money back, according to police sources.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Das, a native of Govindpur under Dhamnagar police limits in Bhadrak district, was apprehended from the Kesura area under Badagada Police Station jurisdiction in Bhubaneswar on Monday. He was subsequently produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
This case is part of a broader pattern of online job fraud targeting unemployed youth in Odisha, where fraudsters exploit government scheme branding to lend credibility to their scams. Notably, the use of platforms such as Google Ads and WhatsApp to solicit victims and collect payments has become a recurring modus operandi in such cases.
Search for Absconding Co-Accused
Police sources confirmed that efforts are underway to trace and arrest Jyotiranjan Paikray, who remains at large. Investigators are expected to examine the bank accounts used to receive the fraudulent deposits as part of the ongoing probe.
Point of View
A government scheme name-drop, WhatsApp payment links, and two years of stalling before victims find the courage to approach police. The use of Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana branding is particularly cynical, exploiting a scheme designed for vulnerable artisans to extract money from desperate job seekers. With one accused still at large and bank accounts yet to be forensically traced, the full scale of the fraud may be larger than the current complaint suggests. Odisha's rising online job fraud cases point to a systemic gap in digital literacy and consumer protection that law enforcement alone cannot close.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Bhubaneswar job fraud case?
Debasish Das, a 36-year-old resident of Govindpur in Bhadrak district, was arrested by Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar on 16 June. He is accused of cheating multiple job seekers out of over ₹43 lakh by falsely promising employment through private companies and government schemes.
How much money did the victims lose in this job scam?
The victims deposited a total of ₹43,33,000 in instalments into bank accounts provided by the accused. The money was transferred over a period following initial contact in 2023, with no jobs ever delivered.
What government scheme was used as bait in the fraud?
The accused allegedly invoked the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, a central government scheme for artisans and craftspeople, to gain the trust of job seekers. Branding the scam around a real government programme helped the fraudsters appear credible.
Is there a second accused in the case?
Yes. Jyotiranjan Paikray, who was introduced to the victims by Das, is a co-accused and remains absconding. Police have confirmed that efforts are underway to arrest him.
What should job seekers do to avoid such scams?
According to police, job seekers should verify any job advertisement independently before making payments, avoid transferring money to unknown bank accounts shared over WhatsApp, and cross-check scheme details directly on official government portals rather than through third-party contacts.
