Baripada: Police on Thursday arrested an associate of Rajat Panda, 40, who was arrested on Monday for allegedly impersonating the sub-collector of Malkangiri and duping people.

Abinash Praharaj, 35, of Guhalagunda village was arrested in Jharsuguda.

Panda and Praharaj were produced in court after being booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code in three cases of cheating, said Baripada sub-divisional police officer Abhimanyu Nayak.

Nayak said the duo had siphoned about Rs 18 lakh from people on the pretext of offering them jobs.

He said Praharaj, a journalist, was arrested from his residence after his link with Panda was established during interrogation. Several documents were seized from his residence during raids.

"Three complaints, including one from the local tehsildar, were received against them. We found several fake appointment letters," said Nayak. "Praharaj used to arrange preys for Panda and they divided the money among them."