Kingpin among five nabbed for running escort service in Odisha, know details about their modus operandi
Bhubaneswar, (TF Bureau): Acting on a tip off, the Cyber Crime and Economic Offence wing on Tuesday nabbed five persons including a kingpin for allegedly running escort service in Odisha.
The accused were identified as, Susanta Kumar Patra alias Babu (28) of Pidhaptna under Delanga police limits in Puri, at present residing at Flat No. 401, Orchid Residency, Sunderpada, under Airfield police limits in Bhubaneswar, Upamanyu Baral alias Upa (34) of Rupadeipur, Gandasahi under Balanga police limits in Puri, Sasmita Jena alias Kandhei (24), under Banapur police limits in Khordha, Jagannath Pradhan alias Jaga (38) of Khuntia Sahi under Balipatna police limits in Bhubaneswar and Sadashiva Sethi alias Shiva (24) under Khordha Sadar police limits in Khordha, were forwarded to a local court here today.
According to police sources, the accused persons were illegally running their business by opening an escort service website https://ii.skokka.com through which they used to allure customers by uploading beautiful and charming photos of married women and young girls. Later they used to cheat and harass customers after looting all money from their accounts.
Further investigation revealed that Susanta Kumar Patra is the mastermind behind this crime plot and have entered into this profession by leaving postal services. In order to get more profit the accused Susanta had engaged Kandhei and other three to first convince and later make a deal between the customer and clients.
This incident came to fore after the complainant Bibekananda Jena lodged an FIR with the Cyber Crime and Economic Offence Police Station here on September 20 this year.
Acting on it the police registered a case No-39 slapping sections 420 IPC R.W. Sec. 66(C)/66(D) of Information Technology Act 2000 and later launched a manhunt to nab the culprits.
During investigation the police have seized 11 nos of mobile phone, 23 nos of ATM cards, 70 nos of pre-activated SIMs and cash amounting to Rs 86,500. In addition to this, the police team have unearthed Rs 20 lakhs from their seized accounts.