ED Provisional Attachment of 19 Goa Properties Worth ₹1,268.63 Crore Using Forged Land Documents.

Headnote

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office, has provisionally attached 19 immovable properties admeasuring over 5 lakh sq. meters and valued at approximately ₹1,268.63 crore. These properties, located in premium regions of Goa, were allegedly acquired illegally by a syndicate led by Shivshankar Mayekar through forged title records, fabricated allotment certificates, and falsified historical documents. The attachments were made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), identifying the properties as proceeds of crime generated through large-scale land fraud involving manipulation of Communidade records.

Background

• On 27.11.2025, ED issued Provisional Attachment Orders under PMLA for 19 land parcels in Anjuna, Assagaon, Ucassaim and nearby localities, covering over 5 lakh sq. meters.

• The illegal acquisition was enabled through fabricated and forged documents, such as:

– Aforamento / Allotment Certificates

– Certificates of Final Possession

– Auto de Demarcação (Demarcation Certificates)

– Historical Deeds of Sale

– Deeds of Gift

– Other manipulated title records

• On 09.09.2025 and 10.10.2025, ED conducted search operations and seized/froze bank accounts and assets worth ₹12.85 crore.

• The investigation began on the basis of an FIR filed by Goa Police against Yeshwant Sawant and others, alleging fraud against the Communidade of Anjuna over land situated at Survey No. 496/1-A, Anjuna.

• The accused allegedly submitted forged documents to procure fraudulent mutation entries, later selling parts of the land to third parties, thereby generating additional proceeds of crime (POC).

ED’s Findings

• ED established that Shivshankar Mayekar was the key conspirator, illegally acquiring several land parcels in Goa in the names of his associates, friends and relatives.

• He was arrested on 01.10.2025 and is currently in judicial custody.

• ED discovered four more FIRs against the accused relating to illegal land acquisition in Anjuna and Assagaon.

• ED has also identified several more land parcels suspected to have been acquired using similar fraudulent methods.

• Under PMLA’s information sharing mechanism, property information is being shared with concerned law enforcement authorities.

Modus Operandi

The investigation revealed a systematic, organised scheme adopted by the Mayekar-led group:

• Identifying vulnerable, unsecured land parcels

• Preparing fabricated title documents including:

– Fake sale deeds

– Forged gift deeds

– Counterfeit certificates purportedly issued by the Communidade or Administrator of Communidades

• Using these forged documents to obtain fraudulent mutation entries in the names of frontmen

• Subsequently selling such land parcels to generate proceeds of crime

Status

Further investigation is currently in progress, focusing on additional land parcels, financial transactions, involved individuals, and tracing proceeds of crime both within and outside Goa.