Another Land Scam In Odisha: 2 Fraudsters Arrested For Duping People By Impersonating Real Owner

Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has busted another land scam in Odisha with the arrest of two frausters – Sabita Das of Jagatsinghpur and Aditya Sahoo of Athagarh.

According to an EOW release, the arrests were made on the basis of a complaint filed by one Swosti Ranjan Pani of Sailashree Vihar, Bhubaneswar, whom the fraudsters had approached with Rs 2 crore property belonging to Rangalata Swain at Bachhapur Mauza at Baranga and tricked him into paying Rs 25 lakh as advance for purchasing the land and impersonated the real owner by producing the patta, PAN and Aadhaar cards and residential certificate. The had fixed Sabita’s photographs on the documents and opened a bank account with Axis Bank in the name of Rangalata Swain by using the forged documents as KYC.

Subsequently, the fraudsters switched off their mobiles.

The release further said that they had earlier failed to avail loan from the bank by mortgaging the patta of the land and impersonating real owner Rangalata Swain. Following which, they made an agreement with one Sripati Badajena to sell away the landed property to him and received Rs 20 lakh as advance from him. They then contacted Pani and persuaded him to purchase the land.

The imposter with the help of the forged KYC had opened another bank account with PNB in the name of Rangalata Swain and purchased some electronic items like LED TV, fridge and washing machine in her name with the money transferred from the other account.

“The gang could be involved in many other such cases which are being investigated and action would be initiated in all such cases,” the EOW added.