Police on Saturday sought government approval to proceed against an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer in the Odisha Home Department in connection with allegations $A case of cheating in a land deal worth 95 lakh in Cuttack.
The Police Commission has written to the state Home Department and the General Administration Department seeking sanctions to go ahead against Aradhana Das, Additional Secretary in the Home Department, in connection with a 2022 land deal in Cuttack.
Police officers said Das was taken $95 lakh from a PWD woman, Beena Bhausinka, after she promised to sell a 2,400 sq ft residential plot in the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) area, but later refused to transfer the property.
Kamal Kumar Bhausinka, Beena’s husband, said in his complaint that as per the agreement concluded on November 22, 2022, Das agreed to transfer the lease rights of the plot for a total amount of Rs. $95 lakh.
“Although my wife paid the full amount agreed upon, incl $85 lakh through RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) remittances and $10 lakh in cash, Das did not execute the required documents for transfer of lease rights. She sent repeated reminders, but avoided communication and gave evasive responses. When I went to meet her, she threatened me, saying that she would break my hand, leave me completely paralyzed and involve me in a case if I pressed for the return of the money, Kamal wrote in the FIR.
Das denied receiving any notification from the police regarding the investigation. “The allegations are all false. She may have made an agreement with my husband who no longer exists. How am I responsible?” She told HT.
A case was registered on February 5 this year at the CDA Phase II police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions relating to cheating, criminal intimidation and breach of trust.
According to the investigation report submitted on March 21 by Inspector-in-Charge of CDA Police Station Phase II Anuradha Maratha, preliminary findings, including bank records and agreement documents, established that $95 lakh was transferred to the bank account of the IAS officer $85 lakh was via RTGS while $10 million was paid in cash
The report also stated that Das did not cooperate with the investigation. “Despite being a government employee of the Home Ministry, Das did not cooperate with the police and refused to accept notices sent by post,” Martha said in her report.
HT has reviewed the FIR as well as letters sent by the inspector and senior police officials in connection with the alleged crime committed by the IAS officer.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cuttack, referred the report to higher authorities on April 1. Then, on April 6, the Additional Commissioner of Police wrote to the General Administration Department seeking necessary approval to take action against the officer.
A senior police officer said that the letter addressed to the General Administration Department is aimed at obtaining mandatory administrative clearance required to take action against senior officials.
