Odisha man arrested for posing as college principal to dupe students of ₹48,500
Attabira police arrested a 20-year-old marketing agent who used 18 SIM cards to pose as college principals and cheat three students of over ₹48,500.
Attabira police in Bargarh district arrested a 20-year-old man from Rayagada on Sunday for allegedly duping students and parents by posing as college principals and extorting money for admissions. A man was taken into custody after a complaint in June. Police said Naik, a marketing agent for an engineering college, used 18 SIM cards to contact victims and had cheated at least three students in Bargarh district since June, collecting over ₹48,500.
According to police, Singh received a call on June 25 from an unknown mobile number. The caller claimed to be associated with Larambha College and told him that ₹8,535 had to be paid through the principal's payment scanner, failing which his son's admission would not be completed. Believing the caller, Singh made four UPI payments — three transactions of ₹2,000 each and another of ₹2,535. He later realised he had been cheated and approached the police.
Based on the complaint, Attabira police registered a case under sections 318(3) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act. During investigation, police found that Naik had worked as a marketing agent for an engineering college and had travelled to different parts of Odisha, particularly educational institutions, where he collected mobile numbers of students and parents from databases.
Police said in June 2026, Naik procured 18 SIM cards in his name and used them to contact students, posing as college principals or clerks. He would send payment scanners and threaten that admission would be cancelled if money was not transferred. Police further found that Naik had allegedly cheated several students in Bargarh district using the same modus operandi in July. He allegedly cheated Kedar Nath Rana of Patkulunda and Nitei Pal of Chinajuri of ₹20,000 each on the pretext of college admission during the same period.
Police seized 10 SIM cards, two mobile phones and three cheque books from Naik's possession. The accused was produced in court on Sunday.
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Who was arrested for the college admission fraud in Bargarh?
Pabitra Naik, a 20-year-old marketing agent from Talapanga village in Rayagada district, was arrested by Attabira police on Sunday.
How much money did the accused allegedly collect from victims?
The accused allegedly collected over ₹48,500 from at least three students — ₹8,535 from Premananda Singh and ₹20,000 each from Kedar Nath Rana and Nitei Pal.
What method did the accused use to contact victims?
Naik procured 18 SIM cards in June 2026 and used them to call students and parents, posing as college principals or clerks, and sent payment scanner QR codes demanding money.
Which college names were used in the scam?
The scam involved claims of association with Larambha College, though the accused also posed as principals or clerks of other unspecified institutions.
What legal sections were invoked against the accused?
Sections 318(3) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act.
What items were seized from the accused?
Police seized 10 SIM cards, two mobile phones, and three cheque books from Naik's possession.
Snehalata Bariha
District Correspondent, Bargarh
Snehalata Bariha covers Bargarh's paddy-belt agriculture, farmer welfare schemes, and the Dhanuyatra festival beat from her base in Bargarh town.
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