**Cuttack**: Hours after BJD Spokesperson Pratap Deb filed nomination for the Rajya Sabha by-poll, a land fraud allegation emerged against him on Monday.
According to reports, State unit of National Union of Backward Classes today moved Odisha Vigilance demanding a probe in connection with a land fraud case against Pratab Deb and his late father Sarat Deb, who was also a former Minister.
Around 2.747 acre of land at Dolamundai in Cuttack, which was first taken up by the Government on ceiling and later found that the Deb family had again sold it by changing its ceiling and termed it as agricultural land.
“We demand an impartial probe into the matter as we suspect Pratap Deb and his father were involved in the land fraud. We have handed over our complaint to Vigilance DG and will meet Governor to inform him about the matter,” said Sanjit Samal, State Convener of the national outfit.
Opposing the transaction, a voluntary organization had moved Orissa High Court in 2003. Following this, a bench comprising justice Anang Patnaik and M. Pannapa directed the district administration to submit the inquiry report.
The district administration, however, has not submitted its report yet which shows there was a nexus between Deb family and the administration, Samal alleged.
Reacting to the news, Deb said the allegation is baseless.
Speaking to OMMCOM NEWS, Deb clarified: “The land was their family property since 1936 and ll the documents are now at Cuttack tehsil office. The allegation is baseless. Besides, we are ready to cooperate with all types of investigations into the matter.”