Dhenkanal: Official car, computer and office furniture of Dhenkanal Tehsildar Swadhin Kumar Behera were seized on Wednesday over non-payment of Rs 13 lakh land acquisition compensation.
According to sources, the government in 2012 acquired 0.012 decimal of land belonging to Satyabadi Behera for a railway over-bridge near Baji Chhak. Though Behera was awarded Rs 6 lakh as compensation, he never received the amount, following which the family moved the court in 2013.
In 2023, the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Dhenkanal, directed the state government to pay Rs 13 lakh, including interest. However, the Tehsildar, who also functions as the Land Acquisition Officer, did not release the money despite the court order.
Frustrated by the inaction, Behera’s family filed an execution petition.
Earlier this month, the court issued an attachment warrant for the Tehsildar’s vehicle and office assets. An earlier warrant had reportedly been ignored, prompting the court to issue a second, stronger order. The seizure was carried out in the presence of court officials on Wednesday afternoon, marking a rare instance of such action against a senior revenue officer in the district.
“My father passed away while fighting for justice, yet the full compensation was never paid. Today the Tehsildar’s car and furniture are being seized only because the officer refused to follow the court’s order,” said his son, Pramod Behera.
