A land mafia racket is very active in Keonjhar district and duping rural innocent people of crores of rupees those who are interested to purchase a piece of land in the district headquarters town.
This has come to the light when one Akshaya Kumar Nath, a stamp vendor by profession in the district Bar Association, has absconded for more than a year after looting over Rs 1 crore from 18 people in the name of making available land in Keonjhar town.
Because of his nature of job, Akshaya was coming in contact with a cross-section of people those who are coming to the bar for registration of lands and other allied jobs. He had prepared a network of people those who are interested to purchase and sell land in the Keonjhar town.
Then after negotiating some successful cases of sales of land, he had tried to win the confidence of some people and engaged some agents to contact the perspective buyers of the land. Seeing his track record, people also started believing him over matters for purchase of land.
Suryanarayan Mahanta, owner of a medicine shop at Bileipada under Joda block who is a victim, said that he was encouraged by his brother- in- laws late Anirudha Mahanta for whom Akshaya had acted as a middle man for the successful sale of a land at Keonjhar.
Akshaya also established a relation with their family by attending the funeral ceremony and Shradhakriya of Mahantababu when he died of a road accident last year at Champua. Seeing his past record and sympathy for the deceased family of his late brother-in- law, there was little scope for Suryanarayan to doubt the integrity of Akshaya. In this way, he created a group of 18 people and called them one day to inspect the land.
Revenue Inspector of Keonjhar Tehsil Rohit Naik and some known faces were present their beforehand. The RI is alleged to have certified the genuineness of the ownership of the land.
Afterwards, a particular date was fixed to register the sale deed of the land. As the buyers reached on the scheduled day, the culprit collected the total amount and told them to wait for the landlord to come. As the landlord did not turn up, he told them to wait and went himself to bring the landlord with him but did not return back. When they tried to contact him over mobile phone, it was found switched off. Disappointed, they informed to the local police and the police registered a case.
Subsequently, the police detained 10 people but later, let them off saying that the culprits will refund the money to the complainants. However, two of the victims were able to get a cheque which later bounced for which a case is going in the court and a warrant has been issued in the name of Akshaya to appear in the court. The specific complaint of the victims is that the police have a soft corner towards the culprits.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that the kingpin is originally a native of Chandikhole under old Cuttack district whose father had migrated to Keonjhar district. The victims have alleged that Akshaya is hiding with the support of his own people and police are not serious to nab him.
Meanwhile, the victims have decided to meet the Keonjhar SP and other top officials to get justice.