Bhubaneswar, Feb. 11: Police today arrested a man who had been swindling people by calling himself a journalist.

Satya Narayan Mishra, 36, had been duping people by claiming he was the bureau chief of a “rajdhani akhbar” and director of a television programme on crime and criminals.

Last night, Mishra arrived at a liquor shop near Unit III. Accompanied by friends, Mishra then moved to the street where a 14-year-old boy was selling snacks. He bought some food but tried to leave without paying.

The boy, Chittaranjan Das, requested the men to give the money but to no avail. Mishra allegedly threatened the boy with dire consequences if the latter asked for money.

After the boy refused to give up, Mishra grabbed the knife Das had kept to chop onions and attacked him. Some passers-by later rushed a bleeding Das to a hospital. Mishra and his friends had fled by then.

The injured boy and his father later lodged a case at Kharavela Nagar police station. Mishra was arrested and forwarded to court today.

“During interrogation, we found that the unemployed man earned his livelihood by swindling people after introducing himself as a journalist,” said Sarojini Nayak, the investigating officer.