The Berhampur police have arrested two persons, including a 70-year-old woman, in connection with a land fraud case involving approximately Rs 67 lakh. The accused have been identified as Rita Dalai of Gandhi Nagar and Sanjeev Ratan (42) of Shastri Nagar. Police sources indicated that two other individuals involved in the case are likely to be apprehended soon.
The case came to light when Milan Kumar Sahu (42) of Padma Nagar filed a complaint at Berhampur Town Police Station on Friday. Sahu alleged that he had purchased a 0.042 decimal plot of land in Nilakanthapur mouza, Berhampur tehsil, in December last year. The total cost of the land was Rs 64.96 lakh, and he paid an additional Rs 2 lakh for deed writing and registration. Payments were made partially via bank transfer to Jalandhar Dalai and the remaining in cash in the presence of Rita Dalai, Sanjeev Ratan, and another accused.
However, Sahu later discovered that the land did not exist. While a portion of the plot belonged to another individual, the remaining part was a public road. When Sahu confronted the accused, they allegedly avoided him and threatened him.
According to SP Berhampur, Saravana Vivek M., police investigations revealed that the accused conspired to cheat the complainant of around Rs 67 lakh. Several documents were seized, including e-stamp slips, sale deeds, RoR fee receipts, trace maps, and e-registration slips.
It was also noted that Rita Dalai had previously been arrested in a land fraud case and was out on bail at the time of this incident.
Police continue to investigate the matter and are working to apprehend the remaining accused.
