Rayagada, Sept 2: Rayagada Police in Odisha arrested seven individuals including three home guards on Tuesday for allegedly robbing Rs9 lakh from a businessman by impersonating police personnel and threatening legal action.

The arrested include home guards Indramani Karakaria of Bissamcuttack police station, Tamana Praska and Dilip Garadia of Kalyansinghpur police station, along with Hira Nayak Garadia, Simanchal Majhi, Radhika Halwa alias Sunita, and Mukesh Nag.

According to the police, the victim, T Umma Reddy, was traveling from Jeypore to Rayagada with his friends and driver when he stopped near Rafukana Square to speak with a woman named Radhika Halwa, who had promised to arrange laborers for him.

At that moment, the accused, some dressed in police uniforms, intercepted Reddy and questioned Reddy about his presence in the area. They forcibly took him and Radhika into their Bolero vehicle, claiming they were taking him to meet the Superintendent of Police.

Shortly after, Radhika was released, but the others allegedly threatened Reddy with police action and forcibly took Rs9 lakh from him. They later abandoned him on the roadside and fled the scene.

Following a complaint filed at Rayagada police station, an investigation led to the arrest of the accused.

Later, Police seized Rs2.83 lakh in cash, a Bolero vehicle, a motorcycle, and six mobile phones from the accused. Additional Superintendent of Police Amulya Kumar Dhar confirmed the arrests during a press briefing and stated that all accused have been forwarded to court.