Rajbiraj, March 22

Land mafia in cahoots with the staffers of land revenue office sold a land plot to different buyers over the past one year in Saptari, it has been learnt.

The shenanigan came to light on Tuesday after Ram Kewal Yadav of Bishnupur Rural Municipality-2, Saptari, owner of a land plot in Belhi Chapena Rural Municipality (then Nargho VDC-3) reached the Rajbiraj-based District Land Revenue Office to sell his land. As per the official record, 13 kattha of land belonging to Ram Kewal was first sold, without his knowledge, in March last year, understandably using forged documents.

Transferred to the name of Ramparidevi Yadav of Belhi Chapena Rural Municipality in the first transaction on 27 March, the very next day the land was then registered under the name of Lalita Devi of Rajbiraj Municipality, before it was again transferred to someone by the name of Bindadevi Yadav of Boriya-6 on May 31.

“What a surprise the land that I own has already been sold, that too not once but thrice,” said the land owner. Further, suspecting involvement of the staffers in the whole fraud, he demanded for an investigation. Staffers responsible for verification of documents produced in course of transferring ownership of the land, however, disavowed any knowledge of the fraud.

A first-class non-gazetted officer Shambhuraj Adhikari at the office informed that his office had launched a probe into the fraud. “We’’ve also informed the district police and the district administration about this matter,” he said.

On his part, Saptari LRO Chief Dadhiram Guragain admitted that the land deals took place using forged documents. “Apparently, the first transaction took place using forged documents,” he said, adding, “As we’’ve corresponded to the authorities concerned about this matter, everything will come to light soon,” he said.