Assistant Executive Engineer Arrested in Bhubaneswar for Rs 72 Lakh Land Fraud

Jajpur Irrigation Department Official Accused of Cheating Colleague with False Promises of Plot Purchase

In a shocking case of fraud, Sai Prateek Das, an Assistant Executive Engineer in the Jajpur Irrigation Department, was arrested by the Sri Lingaraj Police in Bhubaneswar on July 29, 2025, for allegedly defrauding a colleague of Rs 72 lakh under the pretext of facilitating a land purchase.

The complainant, Sanskriti Priyadarshani, also an Assistant Engineer in Jajpur, accused Das of exploiting her trust, issuing bounced cheques, and threatening her life when confronted. The incident began in 2021 when Priyadarshani expressed her desire to purchase a plot in Bhubaneswar. Das, leveraging their professional acquaintance, promised to arrange a plot through reputed builders for Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Gaining her trust as a fellow government employee, Das convinced Priyadarshani and her husband to transfer Rs 72 lakh in phases through cash, bank deposits, and a loan. However, after receiving the full amount, Das allegedly cut off communication and failed to deliver the promised plot. When Priyadarshani pressed for answers, Das reportedly threatened to kill her and her family. In March 2025, she lodged a complaint at Kalinganagar Police Station in Jajpur (Case No. 102/25), leading to a settlement where Das agreed to repay the amount. He provided three cheques worth Rs 72 lakh, signed by his mother, Pratibha Mohanty. However, the cheques bounced, and Das allegedly produced fake bank documents claiming a Rs 2.5 lakh RTGS transfer, which never reflected in Priyadarshani’s account.

Frustrated by the deception and renewed death threats, Priyadarshani approached the Sri Lingaraj Police Station, filing a case (No. 222/25) under IPC Sections 319(1), 318(4), 296, 351(2), 336(2), and 3(5). Following the complaint, Das was arrested and produced in court. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover further details of the scam.