Man arrested in vehicle fraud case in Berhampur

Berhampur : Berhampur Sadar police have arrested a man for allegedly cheating several car owners by taking their vehicles on rent and mortgaging them without consent.

The accused has been identified as a Sargam Tripathy (34), son of Sarat Chandra Tripathy of Kukudakhandi Surjya Nagar. He was arrested from Bhubaneswar today and forwarded to court.

According to police, complainant Swaviman Pradhan (28) of Nayagarh had purchased a Maruti Baleno on loan but, due to financial issues, rented it out through Tripathy, who had promised to pay him ₹30,000 per month. Instead, the accused mortgaged the vehicle in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and never paid the agreed rent.

Investigation revealed that Tripathy had used the same modus operandi to dupe at least six other car owners, mortgaging their vehicles to one R. Hari Charan of Hosur. Another case is already registered against him at Badabazar PS under IPC sections 420/294/506/34.

Police have seized the car’s registration certificate, a vehicle rental agreement, and an iPhone from the accused. Victims have been urged to approach the nearest police station for registering complaints and recovery of their vehicles.