Unfolding a major land scam here, the Economic Offence Wing of the State Crime Branch on Friday arrested three persons on charges of selling 51.57 acres Government land worth Rs 150 crore on the city outskirts.
The three accused identified as Narayan Chandra Pradhan (78), Arun Kumar Bhanja (48) and Bansidhar Pradhan (54) were arrested from the Mancheswar area. They were booked under section 467, 468, 470, 471, 120 (B) of IPC and were forwarded to the local court on Friday, Crime Branch DIG Rajesh Kumar said.
According to reports, the General Administration (GA) Department during its review found that total 51.57 acres of Government land in Rokata, Pandara, Gadakana and Mancheswar mouzas under Bhubaneswar Teshil had been illegally possessed by a few influential people of the area. On being informed, the GA department on July 3 this year handed over the case to the Crime Branch.
During the investigation, the EOW found that Keshab Chandra Mohapatra and Uday Nanda (who are now dead) had been possessing the land since 1961 obtaining forged documents from the revenue office. After their death some years ago, Narayan and Arun, the two accused, secured possession over the land, again by producing fake documents and even sold out part of it, said the Crime Branch sources.
The DIG said Bansidhar, a middleman, facilitated the illegal selling of the land. “We are investigating more in the case to nab the Government officials who helped forging documents and facilitating illegal sale of the land,” said the DIG.