Ex-BJD MLA Pranab Balabantaray served notice over ‘encroachment of government land’ for farmhouse in Jajpur

Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA from Jajpur, Pranab Balabantaray, has come under administrative scrutiny after the local tehsil issued a notice to him in connection with the alleged encroachment of government land for the construction of a farmhouse in Gadamadhupur mouza under Dharmasala tehsil in Jajpur district.

According to sources, the notice was issued based on a field report submitted by the Revenue Inspector (RI) of Talgada circle, which reportedly identified unauthorised occupation of government land linked to a farmhouse.

Following the report, the Dharmasala tehsil office has directed Pranab Balabantaray to appear in person or through an authorised representative and submit his explanation.

The development follows recent public statements in which Balabantaray claimed ownership of the aforementioned farmhouse land, a claim that has now become central to the revenue inquiry.

Revenue Records Cited, Says Dharmasala MLA

Reacting to the issuance of the notice, current Dharmasala MLA Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo said the tehsil administration possesses documentary evidence regarding the land status and alleged encroachment.

“The tehsildar, who is a government officer, has issued a written notice specifying the extent of land that has been encroached upon. All details are available in the tehsil records,” Sahoo said.

Questioning how government land could have been occupied, the MLA said further investigation could bring more details to light. He added that the process was being carried out strictly in accordance with the law.

“The law is moving on the right path. People have started understanding the false narratives being created,” Sahoo said, while asserting that the state government’s ongoing actions reflect its stated stand against corruption.

Notice Based on RI Report

Revenue officials said the notice was issued after preliminary verification at the field level. The RI’s report allegedly flagged unauthorised use of government land adjoining or forming part of the area used for the farmhouse in Gadamadhupur mouza.

Under revenue procedures, the person named in the notice is required to respond with supporting documents to establish lawful possession or ownership. Failure to do so may lead to further action under relevant land and encroachment laws.

Officials confirmed that the matter is currently at the inquiry stage and no final determination has yet been made.

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No Immediate Response From Balabantaray

As of the time of filing this report, Pranab Balabantaray had not issued any public response to the allegations or the notice served by the tehsil office. His reaction to the claims made by the sitting MLA and the revenue authorities could not be obtained.

The administrative action comes amid heightened political tension in Jajpur district following violent clashes reported earlier this month in Jenapur, which triggered parallel protests by BJD and BJP supporters across the district and in Bhubaneswar.

However, MLA Sahoo maintained that the land inquiry is being conducted independently based on official records and field verification.