Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Odisha man arrested in Bengal over alleged government job fraud
Police in Odisha arrested a man named Jagannath Bahalia in West Bengal.
They say he promised people government jobs in exchange for money.
One retired employee said he paid Rs 10 lakh for his son’s railway job.
The employee later received what police say was a fake appointment letter.
Police allege Bahalia pretended to be connected to ministers and other powerful officials.
They say he used photographs and false identity papers to make people believe him.
A diary found at his rented home reportedly listed large financial transactions.
A court sent him to judicial custody for 14 days while the investigation continues.
Jagannath Bahalia, 42, was arrested in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district after allegedly promising government jobs for money.
A retired government employee alleged Bahalia took Rs 10 lakh for a railway job for his son and provided a fake appointment letter.
Police said Bahalia posed as a personal assistant to state ministers and claimed access to senior political leaders.
Investigators allegedly recovered a transaction diary, fake identity documents and appointment papers from his rented house in Bhadrak.
Police alleged he collected more than Rs 1 crore from job seekers; a court sent him to 14 days of judicial custody.
- Who
- Jagannath Bahalia, a 42-year-old man from Bhadrak district, was arrested by the Odisha Police.
- What
- He is accused of collecting money by promising government jobs, posing as a ministerial personal assistant and issuing fake appointment letters.
- When
- The FIR was lodged on Monday, and Bahalia was arrested on Tuesday night; the report is dated September 10.
- Where
- He was arrested in Digha, in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district, after allegedly fleeing from Bhadrak.
- Why
- Police allege he used false credentials, political photographs and claims of official connections to persuade job seekers to pay him.
- Accused
- Jagannath Bahalia, 42
- Reported origin
- Chudakuti, Bhadrak district, Odisha
- Initial complaint
- Kishore Mohapatra alleged paying Rs 10 lakh for his son’s railway job
- Alleged amount collected
- More than Rs 1 crore from several job seekers
- Arrest location
- Digha, Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal
- Evidence cited by police
- A transaction diary, purported fake identity papers and fake appointment documents
- Court action
- Remanded to judicial custody for 14 days