Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: Police in Odisha have sought government approval to proceed against a serving IAS officer, Additional Secretary in the state Home Department, accused of cheating a differently-abled man of Rs 95 lakh by promising him land in Cuttack’s CDA area and issuing death threats when confronted.
Aradhana Das, a promoted IAS officer of the Odisha cadre with prior experience in departments related to land and housing, is at the centre of the controversy. Strong evidence have been found against her in the fraud case, police sources said.
A complaint was lodged against the IAS officer on February 5 at the CDA Phase-II police station. The complainant, Kamal Bhawsinka, a resident of CDA Sector-6, entered into an agreement with Das in November 2022 for purchasing her plot in CDA Sector-10 at Rs 95 lakh. Bhawsinka’s wife, Beena Bhawsinka, transferred Rs 85 lakh via RTGS on November 22 and 25, 2022, to Das’ account and the remaining Rs 10 lakh was paid in cash.
However, after receiving the money, Das did not register and hand over the piece of land, and instead claimed that she had spent the money, She also abused the complainant and threatened to entangle her in a false case. “Das did not execute the required documentation to transfer the leasehold rights. I sent repeated reminders, but she avoided communication and provided evasive responses. When I went to meet her, she threatened me saying she would break my hands and make me totally paralysed and implicate me in a case if I pressed for return of the money,” Kamal wrote in the FIR.
A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those pertaining to cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation (Sections 318(4), 316(2), 296(b), and 351(2)).
On March 21, CDA Phase-II police station IIC Anuradha Martha submitted a two-page investigation report to Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo, confirming strong evidence of the financial transactions linked to the land promise. The report further noted that Das did not cooperate with the investigation. “Despite being a government officer in the Home department, Das did not cooperate with police and refused to accept notices sent by post,” it said.
Following which, Cuttack DCP forwarded the report to Home Department on April 1. Subsequently, on April 6, the additional police commissioner wrote to the General Administration Department, seeking necessary clearance for action against the officer.
Das, however, denied receiving any notice regarding the investigation from police. “The allegations are all false. She may have made an agreement with my husband, who is no more. How am I responsible?” she told HT.
