Papadahandi: Rashmikant Panda, a resident of Pakhanaguda village under Semla Panchayat in Papadahandi block, has absconded after allegedly defrauding 18 innocent women of ₹7.52 lakh.
The victims include Sabitri Thakur, Tulabati Majhi, Kamala Gauda, Tulasa Thakur, Sanyukta Rana, Tobha Majhi, Santosini Nag, Iradi Gauda, and others. These women had taken loans from a microfinance institution and handed the money to the accused. Rashmikant Panda had assured them that he would repay the loan and offer them gifts in return.
Instead, he used the money to buy a tractor and build a house. After making a few initial loan repayments, he fled with the tractor in January 2024. When questioned, his family members claimed they had no knowledge of his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the microfinance institution is still demanding weekly loan repayments from the women, leading to domestic conflicts between husbands and wives in many families. Unable to bear the pressure, all 18 women lodged a formal complaint against Rashmikant Panda at Maidalpur police station yesterday.
The Maidalpur police have registered a case and started an investigation into the matter.