One more land grab case against ex-Odisha MLA Ramesh Jena

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Berhampur, Apr 16:

Odisha police have slapped yet another case of land grab against former Sanakhemundi legislator Ramesh Jena.

A case of land grab has been registered with Berhampur Sadar Police against Ramesh Jena and four of his associates yesterday.

The case pertains to illegal encroachment of Radhakant Mutt land in Bhabinipur area here.

“Ramesh Jena and his aides have forcefully occupied land belonging to Radhakant Mutt in Bhabinipur mouza. The associates are Arakhita Jena, R Murali Mohan, Sai Patnaik and Rajib Tripathy. They had forcefully occupied around 4 acres of land, constructed roads and then sold it under a plotted scheme. When the matter came to light, the trustees have filed an FIR. This is the second such case where Debottar land (land belonging to temples) has been grabbed by Ramesh Jena and his associates,” Berhampur SP Asish Singh said today.

While multiple allegations of land grab have been reported against the former Congress MLA, police are planning to take Jena on remand for further interrogation.

“We have sought court’s permission to take Ramesh Jena on a seven-day remand to interrogate him to establish his involvement in other cases,” Singh added.

The case has been registered under Section 447, 420 384, 386, 120 B of IPC and the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988.

It may be recalled that Berhampur police had registered a case at the Sadar Police Station against Jena, his father Arakhita Jena, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporator R Murali Mohan, a builder Buna Sahu and Kiran Panda on April 13 this year on charges of forcibly grabbing four acres of Debottar land in Nimakhandi and Borigaon and undertaking construction on the same.