Odisha Police Crack Down on Prime Land Fraud in Ganjam

Two individuals, Maheswar Patra and P Pravakar, were arrested by Odisha Police for fraudulently selling four acres of prime land in Ganjam district. They used fake voter IDs and duplicate sales deeds to sell the plot to 18 people without the actual landowners' knowledge. The estimated cost of the land is over Rs 50 lakh.

Odisha Police have taken into custody two individuals involved in a significant land fraud case in Ganjam district. The accused, deed writer Maheswar Patra (44) and broker P Pravakar (48), sold four acres of prime land to 18 unsuspecting buyers at the Kanishi tehsil sub-registration office.

The duo orchestrated the fraudulent sale without the actual landowners' awareness, utilizing fake voter ID cards and duplicate sales deed documents. Golanthara police station in-charge Bibekanand Swain has confirmed the seizure of these falsified documents from the suspects.

An ongoing investigation has included questioning some of the buyers, with police estimating the value of the land involved in the fraud to exceed Rs 50 lakh.

(With inputs from agencies.)