Provisional Attachment of Properties in Goa in Land-Fraud/Money Laundering Case.

Headnote:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Panaji Zonal Office, provisionally attached 19 immovable properties measuring over 5 lakh sq. metres, worth approximately ₹1,268.63 crore, under the PMLA, 2002. These properties were allegedly acquired through a large-scale land-fraud operation led by Shivshankar Mayekar, involving the use of forged land-title documents, fraudulent mutations, and subsequent sale of land to generate Proceeds of Crime (POC). The investigation stems from a Goa Police FIR relating to fraudulent transfer of Communidade land in Anjuna.

Background:

1. ED conducted searches on 09.09.2025 and 10.10.2025, seizing/freezeing assets worth ₹12.85 crore.
2. Inquiry is based on an FIR by Goa Police against Yeshwant Sawant and others for defrauding the Communidade of Anjuna involving Survey No. 496/1-A, Anjuna.
3. Accused persons allegedly used fabricated allotment certificates, forged sale deeds, fake gift deeds, and other falsified historical documents to mutate community land in their favour.
4. These lands were later sold to third parties, generating additional Proceeds of Crime.

Findings of ED Investigation:

1. Shivshankar Mayekar identified as the key conspirator, having illegally acquired multiple land parcels using friends and relatives as fronts.
2. He was arrested on 01.10.2025 and remains in judicial custody.
3. ED discovered four additional FIRs related to illegal land deals in Anjuna and Assagaon.
4. Further probe has identified several more land parcels suspected to have been obtained using similar methods.
5. Information is being shared with relevant agencies through the PMLA information-sharing mechanism.

Modus Operandi Identified:

Targeting vulnerable or valuable land parcels in Goa.

Fabrication of title documents including:

forged sale deeds,

counterfeit gift deeds,

fake certificates allegedly issued by the Communidade or Administrator of Communidades,

falsified demarcation and possession certificates.

Using these forged records to secure fraudulent mutations in the names of frontmen.

Subsequent sale of these properties to generate illicit proceeds.

Status

Further investigation is ongoing.