Kalahandi Deputy Collector suspended over land scam allegations

Bhubaneswar, June 6: The Odisha government has suspended Chittaranjan Pilla, Deputy Collector of Kalahandi, following serious allegations of his involvement in a land scam during his previous posting. The suspension was ordered based on the recommendation of the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

According to official sources, Pilla is accused of illegally mutating government and leased lands while serving as Additional Tehsildar in Bhubaneswar between 2020 and 2022. During this period, he allegedly manipulated land records by reopening old files and converting agricultural plots into ‘ghara bari’ (homestead) plots in violation of regulations. These actions reportedly benefited certain individuals and led to the unauthorized transfer of government-owned land.

The decision to suspend Pilla was taken to facilitate an impartial investigation into the matter. His conduct is also reportedly under scrutiny by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Odisha Crime Branch, which is probing multiple irregularities in land transactions.

The suspension has sparked discussions across administrative circles, with many calling for stricter vigilance mechanisms to prevent such fraudulent practices in government land dealings.