Minister Duped in Land Scam: Arrest Made

A man has been arrested for allegedly duping Odisha Minister Krushna Chandra Patra of Rs 25 lakh. The minister had paid the amount in advance for a land plot, but the accused failed to provide it and issued bounced cheques. A complaint led to the arrest.

A man has been apprehended for allegedly defrauding Odisha Minister Krushna Chandra Patra out of Rs 25 lakh by promising him a land plot in Dhenkanal district, as confirmed by police on Tuesday.

The arrest followed a written complaint filed by Patra, the state food supply and consumer welfare minister, at Dhenkanal Town Police Station on July 26. Police Inspector Pravat Sahu stated that Niranjan Satpathy of Banasingh in Dhenkanal was arrested for swindling the minister and was sent to a local court.

According to the police, in 2021, Patra gave Rs 25 lakh to Satpathy as an advance for a land purchase, but the plot was never provided. Satpathy later issued two cheques that bounced. Despite a written promise to return the money, Satpathy failed to follow through. Patra, who made the payment while he was a company director, filed the police complaint to seek justice.

(With inputs from agencies.)