In Bhubaneswar, Odisha's capital, a high-profile couple notorious for large-scale scams has been captured. The Infocity police arrested this cunning 'high-profile con artist duo.' On Monday, the commissionerate police apprehended a woman accused of orchestrating a major fraud involving several builders, mine owners, MNC officials, and businessmen, amounting to crores of rupees. The accused has been identified as 38-year-old Hansita Abhilipsa, who allegedly exploited claims of strong ties with prominent bureaucrats and politicians in Odisha to deceive her victims.
Abhilipsa, along with her partner and alleged husband, Anil Mohanty, operated from a plush office on Infocity-Nandankanan Road. Here, they reportedly lured targets by promising false approvals of tenders and deal finalizations, using supposedly high-level connections. The duo's arrest followed a complaint by a mine owner they allegedly defrauded.
Police investigations revealed Hansita's expertise in digitally manipulating photos to fabricate an image of close association with top officials, such as the former CAG and Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja. They used these doctored images and fictitious relationships to gain their victims' trust.
Allegedly, Abhilipsa targeted affluent individuals in mining, construction, and multinational business sectors, claiming influence over large contracts. To enhance her credibility, she falsely presented herself as the wife of high-profile entrepreneurs, bureaucrats, or politicians. The commissionerate police apprehended both in Bhubaneswar's Patia area. They have been remanded to court, and further investigations are ongoing to identify other potential accomplices and victims.
Regarding the case, Additional DCP Swaraj Debata stated, 'We received confidential information that Hansita Abhilipsa and her co-accused, Anil Kumar Mohanty, deceived several individuals by claiming relations to India's Prime Minister's private secretary P.K. Mishra. They masqueraded as P.K. Mishra's daughter and son-in-law. A case, PS number-611/24, was registered against them at the Infocity Police Station on December 26. We are conducting preliminary investigations and have presented Hansita and Anil in court yesterday.'
