One More Arrest In Odisha’s Land Fraud Case; EOW Issues Advisory, Toll Free Number

Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Bhubaneswar, has arrested one more person in connection with a land fraud, amounting to Rs 45 lakh, in Odisha capital.

The accused has been identified as Gour Prasad Mohanty of Pallahat, Khurda. He was nabbed from Puri on July 20.

According to EOW, Mohanty was arrested on basis of a complaint lodged by Swostik Ranjan Pani of Sailashree Vihar here. Sabita Das of Jagatsinghpur and Aditya Sahoo of Athagarh, who were arrested by the state agency in March this year, along with Mohanty had reportedly contacted Swostik to sell a land worth Rs 2 crore at Bachhapur mouza in Baranga.

The land is registered in the name of Rangalata Swain (75), who has five plots in Bachhapur mouza. The accused impersonated the real owner and produced fake documents like Patta papers, PAN/Aadhaar cards and residential certificate. They took an advance of Rs 25 lakh from Swostik to sell the land but later went incommunicado.

The release further said that the fraudsters affixed Sabita’s photographs on the fabricated documents. The accused earlier opened a bank account in the name of Rangalata by submitting forged documents and tried to avail loa by mortgaging the Patta of the land. When they did not succeed, they took an advance of Rs 20 lakh from another victim, Sripati Badajena, by impersonating the real owner.

Subsequently, they contacted Swostik and persuaded him to pay Rs 25 lakh as advance, which the latter transferred to an account opened in the name of Rangalata but managed by impersonator Sabita. This amount was misappropriated by the fraudsters and Rs 10 lakh was transferred to Mohanty.

Sabita had also opened an account in Punjab National Bank in the name of Rangalata and purchased electronic items like LED TV, refrigerator, washing machine, and others.

“This gang could be involved in many other such cases which are being scrutinised by EOW. Whoever has approached Aditya Sahoo or Sabita Das or Gour Prasad Mohanty in connection with land purchase or selling, please contact our investigating officer as it is possible that they might have been duped,” the release further said.

The agency has also released an toll free number 18003457103.

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