The Crime Branch (CB) sleuths on Tuesday seized a number of case records pertaining to a land fraud worth ` 50 crore from the Tehsildar’s office.
As per reports, the Sub-Collector Udhav Charan Majhi, while adjudicating cases relating to a land scam in Sipasarubali village, had found some incriminating case records wherein about 90 acres of Government land were fraudulently recorded in the name of a family in the city.
As per the 1927 land records, it was fallow-type Government land. However, as per the Orissa Estate Abolition (OEA) Act cases initiated in 1979 and 1990, the land was recorded as ‘free hold’ in favour of one Laxman Mishra of the city by the then OEA court.
Suspecting foul play, the Sub-Collector had asked the Tehsildar of Brahmagiri, under whose jurisdiction the land comes, to record the land in favour of the State Government and lodge a complaint with the CB.
Accordingly, the Tehsildar Swetakumar Dash filed a complaint with the CB and a team of CB officers, led by a DSP, inspected the relevant files and OEA case records. They then initiated a case against two OEA officers who had passed the order in Mishra’s favour.
The involvement of two revenue inspectors and amins is suspected in the scam. All persons involved in land scam have since retired, while Mishra died long back.
Meanwhile, efforts are on to locate the people who are involved in land grabbing in the city. Sources said 66 persons have grabbed 2,862 acres of Government land near the sea beach.
The Government has so far taken in its possession 1,800 acres of land from the clutches of land mafia.