Bhubaneswar, November 12: In a major action over alleged land registration fraud at the Khurda District Sub-Registrar’s Office in Bhubaneswar, Data Entry Operator Prayag Goud has been dismissed from service after the Badagada Police arrested him.

Goud, who was working at the Sub-Registrar’s Office temporarily through a private outsourcing agency, was allegedly involved in land registration irregularities. Acting on the advice of Khurda Collector Amrit Ruturaj, the Additional District Magistrate-cum-District Registrar directed the outsourcing agency to terminate his services.

Meanwhile, two other employees of the office, Junior Revenue Assistant Amiya Ranjan Kar and Senior Revenue Assistant Umesh Chandra Patnaik, have been placed under suspension in connection with the same case.

According to the suspension order issued by the District Registrar, both officials will remain posted at the office of the Deputy Collector (Revenue), Khurda, during the suspension period. They have also been barred from leaving their headquarters without obtaining prior permission from the competent authority.

The alleged land fraud came to light after a doctor was reportedly cheated of Rs 1.5 crore through the use of forged land documents. The fraud allegedly involved officials associated with the Bhubaneswar Sub-Registrar’s Office and two middlemen.

Following a complaint, the Badagada Police arrested the Data Entry Operator and the two middlemen in connection with the case. Further investigation is underway to establish the extent of the alleged fraud and the involvement of others.