Bhubaneswar, June 1: A 29-year-old businessman was allegedly cheated of Rs 2 lakh after he was duped into believing that Rs 100 notes would be demonetised.
Two persons known to the victim Gayadhar Swain had approached him in February saying they would pay him Rs 4 lakh in Rs 100 notes if they were paid Rs 2 lakh in Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes.
Though the incident took place in February Swain lodged the complaint with Saheed Nagar police station May 23. Police today detained one accused and are interrogating him. Swain, a resident of Nayapalli, said the two accused had convinced him that the RBI was going to ban the Rs 100-denomination note.
"The government had demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and these two people - both of whom were known to me - convinced me that the Rs 100 denomination would be withdrawn as well," said Swain, adding that he had thought he could put the extra cash in the bank immediately so that he did not face problems when the note was banned. Swain alleged he arranged Rs 2 lakh and met the two at Saheed Nagar on February 10 night.
"I met them at 11pm and handed over the Rs 2 lakh in new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. While I was waiting for them to hand me over the Rs 4 lakh as promised, a PCR van reached the spot and asked what we were doing," said the businessman.
Swain accused the PCR staff of being hand-in-glove with the two accused.
"By the time I could understand what was happening, the policemen got both of them in the PCR van and left. I ran after the PCR van. The policemen later released both of them near the Vani Vihar flyover even though I had explained to them what had happened," said Swain.
Swain said that he had tried to get back his money from both the accused. He said: "I contacted them several times on the phone but they did not respond. I finally lodged a police complaint."
Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said one of the accused had been detained. "We are verifying the allegations of Swain and are also trying to verify the allegations made against our PCR staff members," said Bhoi.
