Cuttack: Purighat police in Odisha’s Cuttack have arrested three persons, including a woman identified as the mastermind, in connection with a honey-trapping incident that involved drugging and robbing a man of valuables worth lakhs of rupees.
According to police sources, the incident occurred on January 10 at a hotel on Haripur-Dolamundai Road under Purighat police limits. The prime accused, Itishree Sahu (30), allegedly befriended the victim via a social media platform and builded trust over the next two months before arranging an in-person meeting at the hotel, where she allegedly served a cold drink mixed with sedatives to him. As the victim fell unconscious, the accused fled the scene with gold ornaments, cash, and other valuables.
The matter came to light after the victim’s brother lodged a complaint at Purighat police station.
Following which, police launched an investigation and identified the accused after examining CCTV footage from the hotel and nearby shops. Besides Itishree, her husband Mahesh Kumar Das (39), who was present at the hotel, and Narendra Moharana (48), accused of receiving or purchasing the stolen gold ornaments, have been arrested. Around 200 grams of gold ornaments, Rs 53,500 in cash, mobile phones, ATM cards, Aadhaar cards, an electric vehicle and a motorcycle, were also seized from the accused.
“Investigation also revealed that additional Rs 80,000 was transferred through digital transactions. We are examining whether the accused siphoned off money through other means and their possible involvement in similar cases,” ACP, Zone 6 of Cuttack, Ashok Giri told reporters.