The Odisha Crime Branch on Thursday began investigation into the alleged scam in land acquisition for the NTPC’s super thermal power project at Darlipali under the lefripada tehsil of Sundargarh district.
As per an Orissa High Court order, a two-member team of the Crime Branch reached Sundargarh and started the probe.
The team, led by Crime Branch SP Ramesh Behera, met the district Collector and SP and the land Acquisition Officer besides examining many records at the lefripada tehsil office.
Notably, allegations of grabbing compensation money by producing fake pattas during the land acquisition had come to fore, following which the Collector ordered the probe. This apart, he had ordered to cancel the fake pattas and register case against 76 persons.
However, three persons had moved the High Court seeking compensation by claiming that their pattas are genuine. The court had directed the Crime Branch to conduct an investigation into the matter and submit a report.