Sambalpur: Police have arrested a planning member of Sambalpur Development Authority (SDA) and two others for allegedly issuing fake approval of building plan to a person after taking more than Rs 2 lakh.
As per reports, Debaraj Sahu of Karamtoli under Ainthapali police limits had applied for SDA approval of the plan for construction of a new building on his plot in mouza Kainsir in April 2021. He had meet planning member of SDA Bandita Mohapatra in this connection.
Bandita told him to contact planning section official Laxminarayan Samal who intoduced Sahu to architect Manas Chaini. Samal and Chaini gave a hand note of Rs 2,59,234 to Debraj Sahu and asked him to pay it in cash. Though Shau insisted on making the payment in cheque, the duo told him to pay in cash and took Rs 25,000 more towards official expenses.
After making the payment, Sahu asked for money receipt, but Samal and Chaini did not give it. Instead, they handed over a house plan approval letter bearing the signature of planning member Bandita.
Later, Sahu found that the plan approval letter was forged and filed a complaint against the trio at Ainthapalli police station.
The police have arrested Bandita, Samal and Chaini and forwarded them to court. The police have also seized the hand note, SDA plan approval letter and a site plan map prepared by Chaini.
It may be noted that police had arrested five persons, including Samal, for allegedly cheating many applicants on the pretext of building plan approval last month.
Also Read: Sambalpur Development Authority Staffer Among 5 Held For Building Plan Fraud
