Archive · 25 Jul 2025
Odisha Panchayat Official Arrested for Coercing Women to Film Moles
A man who worked for the local government in Odisha, India, was arrested.
He is accused of tricking women from self-help groups into showing and allowing him to record videos of their moles, promising them money.
He told the women the videos were for medical reasons.
After a complaint was made, police opened a case against him.
The man ran away but was later found and arrested in a different district.
A judge refused to let him out on bail, and he was sent to jail.
A Panchayat official in Odisha was arrested for allegedly coercing women to show moles.
The accused, Somyaranjan Samal, told women the videos were for medical documentation.
He promised Rs 1,000 per mole for the video recordings.
An FIR was filed on June 7th, leading to the arrest.
Samal was arrested in Cuttack district after being at large for over a month.
- Who
- Somyaranjan Samal, a Panchayat official.
- What
- A Panchayat official was arrested for coercing women to show and film their moles.
- When
- An FIR was filed on June 7, and the arrest occurred on Friday after being at large for a month.
- Where
- Kendrapara district, Odisha; arrested in Cuttack district.
- Why
- The accused was allegedly conducting video recordings of moles on women under the pretext of medical documentation for financial gains.
Victims' Perspective
Suspect's Perspective
Coercion and Exploitation
Victims' Perspective
The women were deceived and violated by the accused's actions.
Suspect's Perspective
N/A
- Accused
- Somyaranjan Samal
- Role
- Master Bookkeeper (MBK)
- Location of Arrest
- Chandanpur village, Cuttack district
- Charge
- Coercion and acts intended to insult a woman's modesty
- Victims
- Around a dozen women from self-help groups
- Bail Status
- Rejected