Motivational speaker by day, burglar by night: Youtuber held in Rs 20 lakh burglary in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: Manoj Kumar Singh was known as a motivational speaker, delivering talks in his locality or on social media about the importance of a crime-free society and the harmful effects of crimes.But the 42-year-old's carefully groomed image was exposed when he was arrested on Thursday for his alleged involvement in a recent burglary in the Bharatpur area. "We came to know about his notorious criminal history after arresting him in the Bharatpur burglary case. He had decamped with gold ornaments worth about Rs 20 lakh and cash of around Rs 1 lakh from the residence of a newlywed couple on Aug 14 afternoon. He had been arrested several times in the past for theft and burglaries in Bhubaneswar and Nayagarh," commissioner of police S Dev Datta Singh said.The police were taken aback by Singh's dual persona. "It was shocking to discover that someone who preached against crime was involved in such activities. We even found a video of him delivering a motivational speech," the commissioner added.

The accused, a school dropout residing with his wife and teen daughter in Nayagarh district, is suspected of using his role as a motivational speaker to divert police attention from his criminal activities.

When questioned about his contradictory actions, Singh claimed he resorted to crime to support his family, despite knowing the risks involved. "He failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for not seeking legitimate employment," an officer said.Neighbours of the accused expressed shock at the disclosure. "We were aware of his past criminal records. But after listening to his speeches, we thought he had reformed himself," said Subash Khuntia, a neighbour.The police commissioner, meanwhile, expressed a commitment to rehabilitate Singh. "We plan to help reintegrate him into society by enrolling him in a vocational training programme. Similar to our recent initiatives, like organising a blood donation camp for former offenders, we aim to support Singh's reform," the commissioner stated. The top cop also lauded his team for swift action in solving the burglary and recovering all stolen items, which were returned to the victims.