Odisha BTech student fakes own kidnapping to fund online betting; traced after two-day police hunt

In a bizarre case that unfolded in Cuttack, a 22-year-old BTech student from Odisha has landed in legal trouble after allegedly faking his own kidnapping to extract Rs 50,000 from his family, all in a desperate attempt to invest in an online betting platform.

The accused, Shubham Samal, hails from Gadasantri in Angul district and is currently pursuing his engineering degree at Silicon Institute of Technology in Bhubaneswar. His dramatic scheme came undone following a swift and determined investigation by the Cuttack police.

The Ransom Call That Sparked Panic

The episode began on June 20, when Shubham, staying temporarily at his elder sister's residence at OSAP 6th Battalion campus in Cuttack’s OMP Square, contacted his father. In a distressed voice, he claimed to have been abducted by three unknown individuals who were demanding a ransom of Rs 50,000 for his release.

Alarmed, his family promptly transferred the money via UPI. A formal complaint was lodged by Rupali on Saturday, which set off a frantic search by the police.

Police Rescue & Revelations

After two days of combing the area, police finally located Shubham on Monday at Madhupatana near Press Chhak in Cuttack. Upon being ‘rescued’, the student claimed he was released by his captors after the ransom was paid.

However, inconsistencies in his narrative raised suspicions. According to DCP Rishikesh Khilari, further probing revealed a startling confession: Shubham had fabricated the entire incident after earning Rs 180 on June 19 through an online platform that rewards users for completing tasks. Motivated to earn more, he concocted the fake kidnapping plot to get capital from his unsuspecting father.

Back Home With a Warning

While no formal arrest was made, Shubham was booked for the false claim and handed back to his family with a stern warning. Police emphasized the seriousness of such acts and cautioned youngsters against falling prey to get-rich-quick online platforms that often push them towards reckless decisions.