Bhubaneswar, June 22: The Government Railway Police (GRP) today registered another case against Utpal Ranjan Behera (30), who was arrested on June 13 for allegedly duping three youths of Rs 3 lakh promising them jobs in the railways. The accused, a native of Jagatsighpur, is now being interrogated by the GRP.

A GRP official said that the accused was arrested on the basis of three complaints filed by Akshaya Kumar Rout, Sud-eep Kumar Mallick and Ramakanta Swain of Athagarh while the fourth complaint was lodged by another victim, Samrat Das, a native of Nayagarh.

Police said that Utpal was working as an operator of automated ticket vending machines (ATVM) at the booking office at Bhubaneswar station. "The ATVM was allotted to P.N.V. Rao, a retired railway employee, who had re-employed the accused to sell tickets violating the norms. During this period, the accused came in contact with the victim and promised them of jobs in the railways," said a police officer.

Further investigation revealed the accused of assuring the duped youths jobs of reservation supervisor and travelling ticket examiner (TTE) and collected Rs 1 lakh each from the victim. "Later, the accused issued fake appointment letters and asked the youths to wait for call from the railways. After the youth did not receive any call regarding their appointment, the victims tried to contact Behera. But he fled from his workplace," said another GRP officer. The police have also seized several fake appointment letters from the rented accommodation of the accused.

"We have frozen his bank account and have sought details of money transaction during last two years. We are further interrogating him to ascertain whether he had duped more youths. We will also investigate to find out the mode of investment of Rs 4 lakh which he had taken from the four youths," said inspector in charge of GRP, Bhubanes-war, Soubhagya Kumar Swain.

The police suspected involvement of others in the fraud. "Two friends of the accused were staying with him in the rented accommodation. But, both of them have absconded after Behera's arrest. We suspected the involvement of both of them in the fraud," added the police officer.