Odisha: Lure of Sex, Money, Betrayal; Odisha Blackmailer’s ‘Rags-To-Riches’ Story
Mobile News 24×7 Bureau
Hailing from a poor family in Kalahandi district, once dubbed as the hunger zone of Odisha, Archana Nag now owns a palatial house with imported interior decorations, luxury cars, four high-breed dogs and a white horse.
The rags to riches story of Archana, who was arrested last week on the charge of extortion, was so intriguing that an Odia filmmaker has planned to make a movie on her life.
In the police records, however, the 26-year-old woman is a blackmailer who allegedly extorted money from rich and influential people such as politicians, businessmen and film producers with threats of making public photos and videos of their intimate moments.
Police sources said that Archana initially worked for a private security firm and later joined a beauty parlour where she met Jagabandhu Chand of Balasore district and married him in 2018. It is alleged that she ran a sex racket while working in the beauty parlour.
Jagabandhu operated a used car showroom and knew monied people like politicians, builders, businessmen and others. His and Archana’s photographs with influential persons including some MLAs have gone viral on social media creating a statewide hue and cry.
Archana also befriended rich and influential people and is alleged to have provided them with company of women. Police claimed that she then took intimate pictures of these powerful persons and later blackmailed them for money.
In a complaint made at Nayapally police station, a film producer alleged that Archana demanded ₹ 3 crore from him after showing him his photos with other girls.
She was arrested on October 6 on the basis of another complaint by a girl who accused Archana of using her in this racket.
The police have urged the Economic Offence Wing to probe into the financial issues related to the Archana blackmailing case.
“An internal assessment made by the police revealed that the couple has acquired properties worth ₹ 30 crore in a span of only four years from 2018 to 2022,” a senior police officer said.
Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh said, so far only two cases have been registered against Archana in this connection.
If other blackmailed victims lodge complaints against her, the police will initiate action, the DCP said.
Archana’s bank statements are being examined by the police.
Politics has also started playing its part in this tale of sex, money and betrayal.
