Odisha STF arrests fifth accused in case involving sharing of OTPs with Pakistani intelligence operatives

In a press statement on Sunday, the STF identified the arrested person as Pritam Kar (31) of Bhurunga village under Bari Ramchandrapur police station of Jajpur district. He was produced before the Bhubaneswar court later in the day.

Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) in Odisha arrested one more person in connection with the case involving sharing of OTPs with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives. The accused was arrested from Jajpur district on Saturday. With this, the number of arrests made in the case has now increased to five.

In a press statement on Sunday, the STF identified the arrested person as Pritam Kar (31) of Bhurunga village under Bari Ramchandrapur police station of Jajpur district. He was produced before the Bhubaneswar court later in the day. According to Odisha STF SP Kishore Kumar Panigrahi, Pritam and his associates had been involved in the illegal business of "OTP sharing, mule accounts/ pre-activated digital wallets selling to cyber criminals including PIO/ISI agents since 2017".

Moreover, the findings revealed that Pritam had provided a SIM card and debit card which were used by the accused involved in the last year’s Mangalore auto blast terror act). The accused Pritam was in direct touch with at least two Pakistani intelligence operatives and ISI agents. He had allegedly met them in-person multiple times.

"The accused was in direct touch with at least two ISI agents and had physically met them multiple times in other states and had recently received Rs 1.5 lakh for selling OTP/ mule accounts/ digital wallets," the official said.

"Pritam was the admin of the WhatsApp group named ‘All saving AC available’ having 113 members and he used to make WhatsApp voice call/chat to many foreign numbers too. He is also a member of numerous such groups like, OTP shop-6, All OTP available, OTP Sell/ Buy Adda, OTC KYC deals, Online Project daily, Indian top OTP group, Best OTP group, etc.

“He (Pritam) was in direct touch with at least two PIO/ISI agents and had physically met them multiple times in other states and also had recently received Rs 1.5 lakh for selling OTP/ Mule accounts/ digital wallets. Through this, he is also helped accused in Mangalore auto blast case.” the STF SP said.