Action follows police case
Bhubaneswar, November 12: A data entry operator engaged at the Khurda District Sub-Registrar’s Office has been removed from his position, while two revenue employees have been suspended in connection with an alleged land registration fraud case involving forged documents and a reported loss of ₹1.5 crore.
Prayag Goud, who had been working at the office temporarily through a private outsourcing agency, was arrested by Badagada Police after a complaint relating to the alleged fraud. Following the arrest, the Additional District Magistrate-cum-District Registrar directed the agency to end his engagement. The action was taken on the advice of Khurda Collector Amrit Ruturaj.
The case has brought scrutiny to the functioning of the land registration office, where citizens depend on official records and document verification while undertaking property transactions. The allegations concern the use of forged land papers and reportedly involve personnel associated with the Bhubaneswar Sub-Registrar’s Office as well as two middlemen. Police have arrested the data entry operator and the two middlemen as part of the investigation.
Two officials placed under suspension
Junior Revenue Assistant Amiya Ranjan Kar and Senior Revenue Assistant Umesh Chandra Patnaik have also been placed under suspension in relation to the case. The suspension order issued by the District Registrar directs that both employees remain posted at the office of the Deputy Collector (Revenue), Khurda, for the duration of the suspension.
They have further been instructed not to leave their headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority. The administrative restrictions are part of the action taken while the allegations are examined and the police investigation proceeds. The available information does not establish the final responsibility of any individual beyond the arrests and departmental steps already announced.
| Person or group | Action reported |
|---|---|
| Prayag Goud, data entry operator | Arrested and removed from outsourced position |
| Amiya Ranjan Kar, Junior Revenue Assistant | Suspended and posted at Deputy Collector (Revenue) office |
| Umesh Chandra Patnaik, Senior Revenue Assistant | Suspended and posted at Deputy Collector (Revenue) office |
| Two middlemen | Arrested in the case |
Investigation continues
The alleged wrongdoing came to light after a doctor was reportedly cheated through forged land documents. The complaint led Badagada Police to register action and arrest the operator and the two intermediaries. Investigators are now working to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and whether others were involved.
For property buyers and landowners in Bhubaneswar, the case underlines the importance of retaining the original paperwork associated with a transaction and ensuring that registration-related documents are checked through the authorised process. However, the investigation is still under way, and no broader conclusion about other transactions at the office can be drawn from the case at this stage.
- One outsourced data entry operator has been removed after his arrest.
- Two revenue assistants have been suspended pending further proceedings.
- Police are examining the alleged use of forged land documents and the possible involvement of others.
The administrative and criminal proceedings are separate but connected to the same allegations. While the department has taken immediate personnel-related measures, the police investigation will establish the sequence of events, the role of the accused and the extent of any financial loss. Further action is expected as the case develops.
