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Orissa HC directs CBI to probe Cuttack land scam
Orissa High Court on Wednesday handed over the case to CBI to probe into the allegations.
Cuttack: Not satisfied with the action taken report of the Cuttack district administration over the alleged land scam in Cuttack city, Orissa High Court on Wednesday handed over the case to CBI to probe into the allegations.
Asking the CBI to probe into the alleged encroachment
of a canal in the city by land mafias, the Division Bench of
the High Court comprising Justice B P Das and Justice M M Das
also asked the CBI to probe into any other allegations of
encroachment of government land in the city.
"It is open for the CBI to investigate into the entire allegations of encroachment of government land by land mafias," the HC said asking the agency to take appropriate action against all the persons involved in the scam.
Members of the Bar had earlier alleged that prime government land measuring nearly 400 acres in Abhinav Bidanasi of the city are grabbed by the mafias with the help of local revenue officials. The High Court expressing concern of the fact had directed the district collector to conduct a probe and submit a report.
Although, the district administration conducted enquiries and submitted a report, the High Court did not approve the exercise and ordered to hand over the case to CBI. Accordingly, the Cuttack Sadar sub-collector has been asked to act as a nodal officer to assist the central agency. The members of the bar had brought to the notice of the High Court that land mafias in connivance with local revenue staff help unsuspecting buyers to encroach upon government lands. Subsequently, they helped the buyers to construct houses on the same plot and insist them to file Encroachment cases under Orissa Prevention of Land Encroachment Act.
PTI
"It is open for the CBI to investigate into the entire allegations of encroachment of government land by land mafias," the HC said asking the agency to take appropriate action against all the persons involved in the scam.
Members of the Bar had earlier alleged that prime government land measuring nearly 400 acres in Abhinav Bidanasi of the city are grabbed by the mafias with the help of local revenue officials. The High Court expressing concern of the fact had directed the district collector to conduct a probe and submit a report.
Although, the district administration conducted enquiries and submitted a report, the High Court did not approve the exercise and ordered to hand over the case to CBI. Accordingly, the Cuttack Sadar sub-collector has been asked to act as a nodal officer to assist the central agency. The members of the bar had brought to the notice of the High Court that land mafias in connivance with local revenue staff help unsuspecting buyers to encroach upon government lands. Subsequently, they helped the buyers to construct houses on the same plot and insist them to file Encroachment cases under Orissa Prevention of Land Encroachment Act.
PTI