The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch has arrested the mastermind of an organised land fraud racket in the State capital city. The accused was identified as Antaryami Senapati, a Moharir and Advocate-Clerk by profession. The EOW has also arrested one of his associates identified as Ananta Kumar Pradhan.

The duo was arrested based on the complaint filed by one Lipika Das that somebody impersonated her before the Sub-Registrar, Khandagiri and managed to sell her plot in Mayur Vihar Phase II at Malipada. The plot was sold to one Haladhar Dash by executing a fraudulent Sale Deed without her knowledge.

Earlier, the EOW had arrested three persons, Haladhar Dash, Subodh Kumar Parida and Mamata Parida, in connection with the matter. Sources said Haladhar, who actually purchased the land, is a former employee of BMC.

“Antaryami and his associates had fraudulently made the fake sale deeds by impersonating the real owner and arranging the fake identifying witnesses. In order to materialise their plan, they also prepared the forged documents,” said the EOW.

The EOW has found that the gang is involved in around eight such land selling frauds.

The fraudsters also cheated Gitanjali Mohapatra of Erancha and her husband Brajkishore Senapati (working in the CRPF) to purchase two plots of Sabita Sahoo of Hinjilikatu and Anil Chandra Pattnayak of Bhanjanagar by preparing a fake sale deed by using forged documents. The gang had misappropriated Rs 18 lakh towards the purchase of the plots.

They also defrauded one Ajaya Kumar Senapati (working with the Army) by fraudulently selling 2,600 square feet land by impersonating the actual land owner Sarat Kumar Sanabada and preparing the false sale deed by forged documentation.  They also fraudulently transferred the land standing in the name of one Satyabhama Das of Dimiri, Govindapur, in favour of Damayanti Das, wife of accused Haladhar, by preparing a forged sale deed and impersonating the real owner Satyabhama Das. 

Apart from the aforesaid plots, three other plots of Satyabhama have also fraudulently been sold out in favour of three other fake purchasers by creating forged documents and sale deeds and impersonating the real owners, the agency said.

The EOW appealed to buyers to scrutinisee the Aadhaar Card carefully of the seller before purchasing land.