Two arrested for allegedly setting poultry farm ablaze to commit fraud in Odisha’s Bolangir

A man, who initially approached the police as a complainant, was arrested after investigators found that he allegedly set fire to his own poultry farm to misappropriate money. The incident was reported from the Muribahal police station area in Odisha’s Bolangir district on Thursday. 

Police arrested two accused persons in connection with the case and produced them before a court. An amount of Rs 2.63 lakh was seized during the investigation.

The accused have been identified as Bhojaraj Mahakur of Bagbahali village under Muribahal police station and Subal Rana of Khaliapali village under Belpada police station. Police said both were involved in executing the alleged plan to defraud a private poultry company.

Contract With Private Company

According to police, Bhojaraj had entered into an agreement with a private company based in Cuttack for poultry farming. Under the terms of the contract, the company supplied poultry chicks, feed and medicines, while the chickens were to be reared for 40 days and then supplied back to the company. The company had also provided a certain financial amount in advance to support the operation.

Alleged Breach And Arson

Police said that after the chickens grew, Bhojaraj allegedly violated the agreement. Instead of supplying the poultry to the company, he reportedly sold them outside with the help of his associate, Subal Rana. To conceal the breach of contract, Bhojaraj allegedly set fire to his own poultry farm, burning some of the chickens, and later lodged a complaint at the police station claiming that miscreants had caused the fire.

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Investigation And Arrests

Suspecting foul play, the company authorities subsequently lodged a complaint with the police. Following a detailed investigation, Muribahal police concluded that the fire had been deliberately set by the accused to misappropriate money. Both accused were arrested and forwarded to court for further legal proceedings.