Four held in Chandopala land fraud case after victim tracks down accused

Komna police arrested the accused and produced in court on Sunday. The arrests comes after Satyanarayan traced the person accused of impersonating him.

Representative ImagePhoto | ANI

Four arrested in Chandopala land fraud

Nuapada police arrested four persons on Sunday in connection with the fraudulent sale of 4.40 acres of land at Chandopala under Komna tehsil, three days after the landowner's family tracked down the main accused in neighbouring Chhattisgarh and handed him over to police.

The arrested are Dumal Rana of Gudbheli village in Goherapadar, Chhattisgarh, who allegedly impersonated landowner Satyanarayan Pradhani; Deomati Majhi of Deodara village in Komna, who allegedly posed as Pradhani's sister Kumudini; and two land brokers, Dullav Nial of Solbandh and Tulasi Rana of Samarsingh village. Komna police produced all four in court on Sunday.

Discovery of the fraud

The case came to light last month when Pradhani discovered the land had been sold while completing formalities for paddy procurement. According to his complaint, the property was fraudulently sold on April 23 using forged identity documents. The impersonation and use of forged documents allowed the accused to execute the sale without the knowledge or consent of the actual landowner.

Family takes matters into their own hands

After police action appeared delayed despite a registered case, Pradhani's family circulated a photograph of the alleged impersonator on social media. Their efforts led them to Rana, who was traced to Tetelkunti village under Mainpur police limits in Gariaband district, Chhattisgarh. Speaking to reporters, a family member said, "We were desperate for justice and decided to use every available means including social media to locate the person who had cheated us."

The family apprehended Rana and handed him to Sinapali police on September 4. Komna police subsequently took him into custody for questioning.

Threat of protest and subsequent arrests

Pradhani's family had threatened to stage a dharna outside the Nuapada collector's office on September 7 if arrests were not made. Following sustained pressure, the arrests were carried out. Nuapada SDPO Khireshwar Sahu confirmed the arrests and said investigation is continuing to establish the role of other accused and individuals involved in the fraudulent transaction.

"We are leaving no stone unturned to identify all those involved in this conspiracy," SDPO Sahu said. "The investigation is being handled with utmost priority."

Official action against revenue officials

Following the fraud's discovery, the then Komna tehsildar and sub-registrar Sarbeswar Jal and assistant revenue inspector Ramnath Mishra were placed under suspension. A formal inquiry has been ordered into the lapses that allowed the fraudulent sale to go undetected for weeks.

Background on the case

The Chandopala land fraud case highlights growing concerns over land-related crimes and identity fraud in rural Odisha. Similar cases have been reported in recent months where impersonators have used forged documents to sell properties belonging to unsuspecting owners. Local authorities have urged citizens to verify documents carefully before any transaction and to report suspicious activity immediately.

Express News Service

Updated on: 08 Sep 2026, 5:06 am

2 min read

Nuapada : Nuapada police has arrested four persons in connection with the Chandopala land fraud case, three days after the owner of the property tracked down the man who impersonated him to sell his land.