The investigation into the fake sweeper job scam in Odisha‘s Sambalpur took a new turn on Wednesday, with Burla Police recovering an additional Rs 13 lakh from a woman supervisor identified as Bhagyalaxmi Mahananda.
Earlier, police had seized Rs 62 lakh and arrested two prime accused — Rahul Ray and Padmabati Tandi — for their alleged involvement in the fraudulent recruitment racket.
Police also detained 20 more individuals for interrogation to trace the money trail and identify other possible members of the network. The investigation is underway, and more arrests are likely.
Also Read: Sweeper job fraud case: Woman attempts to kill self by consuming poison over repayment demand in Sambalpur
When contacted, Sambalpur SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo said, “We had taken the two prime accused Rahul Ray and Padmabati Tandi on remand. The two confessed to the crime during interrogation and revealed the names of the people who acted as agents in the scam. Based on their confession, we have detained at least 20 people.”
“The woman from whom Rs 13L was recovered turns out to be one of the masterminds. Earlier, she had tried to mislead the police by claiming she was a victim. She also has been arrested,” Bhamoo added.
According to sources, the scam involved duping several job aspirants with the promise of employment as sweepers under government or civic bodies. The accused reportedly collected lakhs of rupees from the victims in exchange for fake appointment letters.
In a tragic development linked to the case, another supervisor, Swarnaprabha Padhi, reportedly ended her life by consuming poison, unable to bear the mental pressure surrounding the incident.
