The State Crime Branch on Thursday arrested 13 villagers of Ghangapatna, situated on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, for illegally selling the controversial land to several influential people.
The arrested persons were Prafulla Dehury (55), Purna Chandra Dehury (60), Brundaban Dehury (66), Kalyani alias Kalia Naik (68), Nepal Dehury (65), laxman Dehury (60), Baina Parida (60), Rohit Behera (55), Debaraj Naik (66), Ratnakar Parida (70), Judhisthir Naik (71), Bilash Dehury (72) and Kashi alias Kasinath Naik (75). All belong to Ghangapatna village under the Chandaka police limits in Khordha district.
Briefing reporters here, Crime Branch DIG Rajesh Kumar said the arrested persons were main leaseholders of the land. Though their lease had been cancelled by the tehsildar in 1984-86 after a thorough inquiry, they sold their land to different people phase-wise, he added.
Kumar said the revenue officials hadn’t mentioned in the Government record about the cancellation of the land, as a result of which the leaseholders easily sold the land by taking the help of the errant officials.
The DIG further said the arrested persons had one acre of land each. “After investigation, more truth will come out and other persons involved in the case will be arrested,”
he said.
When asked about any action against any influential persons involved in the case, Kumar avoided the question by telling that they would take action against the persons who are involved in the case.
Earlier, the CB had arrested eight persons, including five revenue officials, in
the case.