Theft / Odisha Father‑Son Gang Busted in Truck Theft Racket

Bhubaneswar, Oct 11: Mancheswar police have busted a major inter‑state truck theft racket operating in and around the capital, uncovering a shocking family‑run syndicate led by a father and his two sons.

Investigations revealed that the gang had been active since 2019, targeting trucks parked along highways across Odisha.

Police sources said nearly 30 trucks had been stolen over the years, with several cases registered against the group in Bhubaneswar, Pipili, Cuttack’s Badambadi, Boudh, and other districts.

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The breakthrough came after a truck was stolen from Mancheswar in August. CCTV footage provided crucial leads, enabling police to trace and arrest two accused from Champua in Keonjhar district.

According to police, the gang’s modus operandi involved stealing trucks and selling them outside the state. Financial trails showed transactions across more than 15 bank accounts.

In some cases, the accused even entered into agreements with truck owners before illegally reselling the vehicles elsewhere.

The racket was orchestrated by Niranjan Mohapatra, who handled deals and sales. His elder son Ashok Mohapatra was responsible for stealing and moving the trucks, while the younger son Manoj Mohapatra built trust with vehicle owners and facilitated access. Together, they created a parallel network of theft and resale that flourished for years.

Police said the gang not only stole trucks but also manipulated ownership documents to make sales appear legitimate. The investigation is now focused on identifying other associates and tracing where the stolen trucks were sold.

“The arrests have opened up a larger network of inter‑state operations. We are probing further to identify all those involved and recover stolen vehicles,” officials said.