Crime Branch starts probe into land scam, sets SIT

The Crime Branch of Odisha Police today formally began investigation into the multi-crore land scam at Ghangapatana village by registering a case.
The investigating agency set up a Special Investigating Team (SIT) which visited the spot and collected preliminary information regarding the land issue, ADG B K Sharma said.
The Crime Branch was told to submit its report within two months.
Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had directed the Crime Branch to probe the encroachment of 76 acres of land at Ghangapatna village at the outskit of the state capital. A number of ruling party leaders and officers were allegedly involved in the encroachment of land in the village.

Earlier, the district collector of Khurda in his report has informed the state government that about 76 acres of land were under encroachment of certain people.
Bhubaneswar Tesildar, additional tehsildar, Revenue Inspector and sub-registrar were put on suspension for their alleged role in registration of the lands.
The forest and environment department has already filed FIR against the concerned organization/individual involved in the illegal construction of road on the forest land.
The construction of the road violated the Sec-2 of Forest Conservation Act-1980, an official said.