Three men, including a data entry operator at the Bhubaneswar sub-registrar’s office, were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to take over a doctor’s 1,740-sq-ft property in Laxmisagar through forged documents, impersonation and fraudulent land registration.
The accused were identified as Amit Kumar Sahoo, 38, Jaminikanta Rout, 40, and Prayag Gouda, 39. Gouda works as a data entry operator at the city sub-registrar’s office. Police said the alleged fraud involved the unauthorised use of the doctor’s identity documents and manipulation of the registration system’s OTP authentication process.
According to police, the doctor, who is posted at Capital Hospital, bought the plot for Rs 52 lakh in 2023 through an auction conducted by a nationalised bank. The property had originally belonged to Rout, but the bank took possession of it after he defaulted on a Rs 22 lakh loan. The bank later handed over lawful possession of the land to the doctor.
Police alleged that Rout subsequently conspired with Sahoo and Gouda to reclaim the property. DCP Saravana Vivek M said Rout allegedly impersonated the doctor by forging identity documents and executed a sale deed transferring the property to Sahoo without the owner’s knowledge. Rout allegedly claimed that the property was sold to Sahoo for Rs 1.52 crore. Sahoo then sold it to a woman, police said.
The investigation indicates that Gouda allegedly helped upload forged Aadhaar details into the registration system and manipulated OTP authentication to facilitate the impersonation and registration. The alleged involvement of an employee linked to the registration process has brought the integrity of digital property transactions into focus, although the police investigation is still under way.
Police also said the accused allegedly broke open the lock of the doctor’s house on September 26 and attempted to occupy the property unlawfully. The incident prompted the doctor to lodge a first information report with Badagada police. The case therefore involves both an alleged attempt to alter ownership records and a reported physical attempt to take control of the premises.
DCP Saravana said the prima facie investigation indicated a planned conspiracy involving impersonation, forgery and fraudulent land registration. Police are examining the specific role of each accused and whether others were involved. The arrests and ongoing investigation will determine how the forged documents were prepared, how the registration process was allegedly bypassed and whether further action is required against additional persons.
