A postal agent, Durjodhan Mishra from Madhubani, Bihar, conned people out of Rs 2.63 crore way back in 1994 before fleeing the city and then transformed himself to Swami Durgesh Maharaj 11 years ago, giving sermons to devotees visiting Badrinath.
He grew his beard, attended aartis and gave pravachans so perfectly in Manav Kalyan Ashram opposite Badrinath temple that he has many disciples, including foreigners, and a Facebook profile. But he failed to cut off ties with his family, which ultimately led the CBI to his hideout in the mountains, from where he was arrested last week. It was difficult for the investigators to identify the proclaimed offender-turned-seer due to his changed looks but they didn't give up, choosing to stay in his ashram before finally nailing him last week.
Durjodhan Mishra aka Durgesh Maharaj had settled in Hatgachia, Kolkata, with his wife and kids in 1990s working as an agent for postal instruments like Kisan Vikas Patra. He allegedly got 263 Kishan Vikas Patra for around Rs 2.63 crore issued fraudulantly, collected the money and fled with his two cronies. The Kolkata police probe dragged another eight years before the CBI took up the case in December 2002. "A chargesheet was filed against Mishra, a Directorate of Small Savings agent, and then postal assistant of Govinda Khatik Road sub-post-office for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy."
The CBI used every medium available to apprehend the absconding Mishra. Their perseverance paid off when a few months ago, they stumbled upon a Facebook post that showed them that Mishra's family lived in Bikaneer and Jodhpur (Rajasthan). On inquiry, the CBI found that his wife lived there since 2006 but Mishra never visited the Jodhpur address. The officers found that every night, his wife received calls from two particular numbers from Badrinath. Mishra used the numbers, the CBI said. Officers took his pictures and photoshopped it by removing the white beard to reveal his face besides collecting other evidence to ascertain his identity.
Only after being assured that he was the scamster, the team arrested Mishra.
He grew his beard, attended aartis and gave pravachans so perfectly in Manav Kalyan Ashram opposite Badrinath temple that he has many disciples, including foreigners, and a Facebook profile. But he failed to cut off ties with his family, which ultimately led the CBI to his hideout in the mountains, from where he was arrested last week. It was difficult for the investigators to identify the proclaimed offender-turned-seer due to his changed looks but they didn't give up, choosing to stay in his ashram before finally nailing him last week.
Durjodhan Mishra aka Durgesh Maharaj had settled in Hatgachia, Kolkata, with his wife and kids in 1990s working as an agent for postal instruments like Kisan Vikas Patra. He allegedly got 263 Kishan Vikas Patra for around Rs 2.63 crore issued fraudulantly, collected the money and fled with his two cronies. The Kolkata police probe dragged another eight years before the CBI took up the case in December 2002. "A chargesheet was filed against Mishra, a Directorate of Small Savings agent, and then postal assistant of Govinda Khatik Road sub-post-office for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy."
The CBI used every medium available to apprehend the absconding Mishra. Their perseverance paid off when a few months ago, they stumbled upon a Facebook post that showed them that Mishra's family lived in Bikaneer and Jodhpur (Rajasthan). On inquiry, the CBI found that his wife lived there since 2006 but Mishra never visited the Jodhpur address. The officers found that every night, his wife received calls from two particular numbers from Badrinath. Mishra used the numbers, the CBI said. Officers took his pictures and photoshopped it by removing the white beard to reveal his face besides collecting other evidence to ascertain his identity.
Only after being assured that he was the scamster, the team arrested Mishra.
Source:-The Times of India
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