Bhubaneswar: Taking swift action following a major land registration fraud at the Sub-Registrar’s office in Khordha, Bhubaneswar, the authorities have dismissed one person and suspended two others.
Prayag Gouda, a data entry operator engaged at the office through a third-party outsourcing agency, has been dismissed from service. His termination came following his arrest by the Badagada police in connection with fraudulent land registration activities at the registry office.
Acting on the directives of Khordha Collector Amrit Ruturaj, the Additional District Magistrate and District Registrar instructed the outsourcing agency to immediately remove Gouda from his position.
This apart, two regular government employees allegedly involved in the scam — Junior Revenue Assistant Amiya Ranjan Kar and Senior Revenue Assistant Umesh Chandra Pattanaik —have been placed under immediate suspension.
According to official sources, both suspended employees will be attached to the office of the Deputy Collector (Revenue) in Khordha during their suspension period and are strictly barred from leaving the headquarters without prior official permission. The strict action highlights the district administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward irregularities and corruption in public offices.
It may be noted that Bhubaneswar police on Wednesday arrested three persons, including a data entry operator Prayag Gouda, for allegedly conspiring to illegally reclaim a property that had been auctioned by a bank and purchased by a doctor.