Amid I-T crackdowns, fake Income Tax officer dupes Bolangir doctor of Rs 1 lakh; arrested

As the Income Tax (IT) department officials carried out massive raids on the properties of liquor traders across Odisha on Wednesday on suspicion of tax evasion, a conman in the Bolangir district used the opportunity to earn some quick money. 

The accused landed at the residence of a doctor at Titilagarh and duped him of Rs 1 lakh after threatening him with a similar crackdown.

As per reports, the accused reached Dr Gopabandhu Sahu’s residence and introduced himself as an Income Tax officer. He threatened Sahu with a similar raid at his house and asked for a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to avoid the raid.

Frightened by such threats, Sahu reportedly handed over the amount to the accused. However, Sahu grew suspicious when the accused left the place in a car. He immediately dialed the Titilagarh police and narrated the incident.

Swinging into action, Titilagarh police intercepted the vehicle near Saintala and arrested the accused. The vehicle was seized and the driver was also detained. The accused and the driver are currently being questioned about the incident. 

Notably, Income Tax sleuths had carried out simultaneous raids at different locations in the State on Wednesday over alleged tax evasion. The IT officials were dumbfounded when they found net cash of more than Rs 150 crore while conducting a raid at the office of a liquor manufacturing company named Baldeo Sahu & Group of Companies in Bolangir.

The IT officials were surprised to see so much money stashed in an almirah.