Rourkela: The Chhend police in Rourkela have launched a manhunt to trace three fraudsters who have been accused of duping over 50 women of more than Rs 2.5 lakh by promising them bank loans in the name of a non-existent financial institution.According to the FIR filed by Ranjita Parihari of Sector-13 on Sunday, the three men introduced themselves as officials of a purported ‘South Indian Bank’ operating from Kalinga Vihar in Chhend. They reportedly held a meeting in Sector-13 and offered women loans of Rs 65,000 each, asking them to pay Rs 2,400 as processing fee and Rs 2,620 as insurance premium — a total of Rs 5,020. Believing the offer, Ranjita and several other women from the locality paid the amount on July 22. However, when they later contacted the men regarding the loans, their mobile phones were found switched off.In her FIR, Ranjita alleged that women from different parts of Rourkela police district were similarly targeted between July 22 and July 25.“Based on the FIR, we have registered a case,” said B K Bhuyan, inspector in-charge of Chhend police station.Following the complaint, police visited the address of the so-called bank in Kalinga Vihar. Investigators found only a small banner bearing the name ‘South Indian Bank’ pasted outside a locked room and discovered that no such bank was operating from the location.Police said the accused remain untraceable and their mobile phones are switched off.
