‘Godman’ posed as OTDC chief, conned contractor Rs 3 cr

By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: A self-styled godman who impersonated as chairman of State-run Odisha Tourism Development Corporation was arrested by the Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch for issuing faux work orders to an excellent class contractor and dishonest him to the tune of Rs 3 crore.

Bijayananda Choudhury, alias Shri Swami Bijayanandaji Maharaj, was picked up from his CDA space home in Cuttack on Saturday. Along with him, EOW held Chandan Akash Mohanty, an engineer who has beforehand labored with OTDC.

The duo had made away Rs 3 crore from particular class contractor Dhanurdhara Champatiray after issuing faux work order. Basing on a criticism from OTDC, the company’ launched an investigation into the matter and ascertained that faux work orders of the State endeavor have been issued in favour of Champatiray and the 2 collected big quantity from him in direction of Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). 

Bijayananda ChoudhuryThe EOW sources stated Champatiray was trying to get work from OTDC through the pandemic. Earlier in May, he was launched to Choudhury by way of a relative. The self-styled godman claimed to be OTDC chairman and likewise a member of India Tourism Development Corporation. 

Choudhury then launched Champatiray to Mohanty who claimed that he was an assistant engineer with OTDC although he his time period with the company had ended on May 31, 2019. The two promised work orders to Champatiray from OTDC and instructed him to deposit big quantity in direction of EMD within the private checking account of Mohanty. 

‘Godman’ posed as OTDC chief, conned contractor Rs 3 crore

Between August and November 2020, Mohanty handed over 23 faux work orders regarding restore and renovation of Panthanivas at Barkul and Rambha. The work orders have been issued below the faux seal and signature of OTDC’s government engineer. Towards the ‘work orders’, Champatiray paid Rs 3 crore.

Of the full swindled quantity, round Rs 1.14 crore was deposited within the private account of Mohanty at Andhra Bank’s Lewis Road department within the metropolis. Mohanty additionally paid an enormous sum to Choudhury for his assist in conning the contractor. When Champatiray acquired no work, he contacted OTDC solely to understand the mess he had walked into.

“All work orders were found to be fake and manufactured by using forged signatures and seals which were not issued by OTDC,” stated DIG, EOW Jai Narayan Pankaj. A case was registered below sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of IPC on Saturday. The duo was produced earlier than a court docket in Bhubaneswar on Sunday and additional probe is on.