Bhubaneswar, June 21: Bhubaneswar Police have successfully rescued a kidnapped woman and arrested the perpetrators of an elaborate extortion scheme that unfolded between June 19 and June 20, 2024. The incident began when Satya Narayan Pani reported his daughter, Smruti Rekha Pani, missing after she departed for Satsang Kendra, Vani Vihar, on June 19, 2024, in a hired auto. Later that day, Smruti’s brother, Subhashis Pani in Bangalore, received a ransom call via WhatsApp demanding one crore rupees for her safe return.

Responding swiftly, Bhubaneswar’s Commissionerate Police launched an intensive operation, mobilizing multiple teams to expedite the investigation and ensure Smruti’s rescue. They uncovered that Pradeep Kumar Ola, grappling with financial losses from stock trading, had orchestrated the abduction to extort money from Smruti’s brother, Subhashis, known for his YouTube channel "POWER OF STOCKS."

Pradeep, who had befriended Smruti through Instagram, exploited her strained marriage and plotted with his associate, Devi Lal. They arrived from Rajasthan on June 15, 2024, stayed in Khurdha, and executed their plan near DN Regalia on June 18/19. Pradeep, posing as an associate of international gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, made continuous threats to Subhashis.

The police tracked the suspects to Nayagarh, where a confrontation ensued during their attempt to flee, resulting in injuries to the Nayagarh Police Station Inspector-in-Charge. Despite this, all suspects were apprehended, and investigations continue into this complex case.

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