TV
A major online fraud has come to light in Jagatsinghpur, where thousands of people were allegedly duped through the HUGE app, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 20 crore.
According to police sources, the case has now been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch for an in-depth investigation. The scam surfaced after multiple residents of Naharana village lodged formal complaints.
Case Transferred To Crime Branch
Preliminary investigation revealed the fraud was not confined to Jagatsinghpur alone. Nearly four lakh people across Odisha are believed to have invested in the app. With the estimated scam amount exceeding Rs 20 crore, police have transferred the case to the Crime Branch’s EOW cell.
The development has raised hopes among locals that a thorough probe may lead to justice and possible recovery of their hard-earned money.
Tempting Returns Drew Villagers In
As per reports, the app was launched in November 2024 and operated without raising suspicion for nearly eight months. During this time, 3000 residents of Jagatsinghpur, including youths, pensioners, women, and daily labourers, invested their savings.
The app lured people with attractive offers, such as promising Rs 200 every day on an investment of Rs 5,500. It also allegedly offered Rs 10,000 monthly salaries to those who brought in 12 new investors, and around Rs 2 lakh per month to anyone adding 500–600 members. The app also offered various electronic appliances as prizes.
App Shutdown Sparks Panic
The app reportedly stopped functioning suddenly after August 20, which created panic among investors. Villagers reported they could no longer access the platform or carry out transactions. Many rushed to file complaints at the Antapur Police Outpost.
The sudden closure followed the Centre’s recent ban on betting apps, which reportedly affected several such platforms.
