ED Attaches 19 Goa Properties Worth ₹1,268.63 Crore Acquired Through Forged Land Documents.

Headnote:

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office, has provisionally attached 19 immovable properties valued at approximately ₹1,268.63 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The properties were allegedly acquired illegally by a syndicate led by Shivshankar Mayekar, using forged ownership records, fabricated government certificates, and fraudulent sale/gift deeds. The ED states that these properties are "proceeds of crime" generated through large-scale land fraud involving manipulation of Communidade records in Goa.

Background:

On 27.11.2025, ED issued Provisional Attachment Orders for 19 properties spread across 5 lakh sq. meters in Goa’s prime locations.

The land parcels were allegedly acquired through forged land ownership and mutation documents, including:

forged ownership certificates,

fabricated occupancy certificates,

Auto de Demarcação (demarcation certificates),

fake sale deeds,

forged gift deeds.

Earlier, during search operations on 09.09.2025 and 10.10.2025, ED had seized and frozen ₹12.85 crore worth of deposits and valuable assets.

ED initiated investigation based on FIRs filed by Goa Police against Yashwant Sawant and others, involving fraudulent mutation of land belonging to the Anjuna Communidade.

Accused persons allegedly obtained land mutation in their names using false documents and later sold portions of the land, thereby generating proceeds of crime (POC).

ED’s Findings:

1. The investigation identified Shivshankar Mayekar as the key conspirator, who illegally acquired numerous land parcels in Goa under the names of friends and relatives.
2. He was arrested by ED on 01.10.2025 and is presently in judicial custody.
3. ED discovered four additional FIRs relating to similar illegal land acquisitions in Anjuna and Assagao.
4. Multiple other properties have been identified where illegal acquisition is suspected.
5. ED noted that Mayekar’s group operated through a structured modus operandi involving:
6. Identifying unsecured and vulnerable plots,
7. Preparing forged sale/gift deeds and fake Communidade-issued certificates,
8. Fraudulently transferring land to chosen frontmen,
9. Selling the properties to generate proceeds of crime.

Court / Legal Actions:

1. ED invoked Section 5 of the PMLA for provisional attachment of properties deemed to be proceeds of crime.
2. Information regarding suspicious properties is being shared with concerned state law enforcement agencies under PMLA’s information-sharing mechanism.
3. Further investigation is ongoing to identify remaining assets, involved persons, and additional proceeds of crime.

Legal Provisions Discussed:

1. Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) – Provisional attachment of proceeds of crime.
2. Indian Penal Code, 1860 – Charges in FIR for forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.
3. Goa Land Revenue Code & Communidade Laws – Relevant to land ownership, mutation, and community land protection provisions.