ED Attaches Rs 6.3 Crore Properties in Goa Land Grab Money Laundering Case
Panaji: In a significant development in a high-profile land grab investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Goa, on Friday provisionally attached three immovable properties with a total market value of Rs 6.3 crore. This action is part of an ongoing money laundering probe against Estevan D'Souza and several other individuals involved in an alleged fraudulent land acquisition scheme.
Total Attached Properties Now Exceed Rs 78 Crore
With this latest provisional attachment, the cumulative value of properties seized in this particular case has now surpassed the substantial figure of Rs 78 crore. The ED executed the attachment under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, which empowers the agency to seize assets suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Investigation Origins and Criminal Conspiracy
The ED initiated its money laundering investigation based on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Goa Police. These FIRs were filed at the Porvorim Police Station and the Economic Offences Cell (EOC) of Goa. The police cases involved serious charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, cheating, impersonation, and forgery.
The ED's comprehensive investigation uncovered a sophisticated criminal conspiracy. According to the agency, Estevan D'Souza, along with co-accused Moses Fernandes and Mohammed Suhail, and in collusion with others, fraudulently seized several immovable properties across Goa. Their modus operandi involved impersonating the original, legitimate property owners and utilizing a range of forged documents to facilitate the illegal transfers.
Forged Documents and Fraudulent Sales
The accused employed fake sale deeds, fabricated identity credentials, and forged power of attorney documents to illegally acquire the properties, the ED stated in its official release. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that after fraudulently obtaining these properties, the accused then induced unsuspecting buyers. They executed sale deeds and agreements for these illegally acquired lands, thereby collecting substantial sums of money through deception.
Legal Proceedings and Prosecution
The ED has already taken the case to court. The agency filed a detailed prosecution complaint against Estevan D'Souza and the other accused before the Special Court (PMLA) in Goa. This complaint specifically addresses the offence of money laundering stemming from the scheduled predicate offences of cheating and forgery. The court has taken cognizance of the ED's prosecution complaint, and the legal trial in the matter is currently underway.
Latest Attachment Details
The most recent investigative findings led to the identification of three additional immovable properties. The ED discovered that the accused had fraudulently mutated these properties into the names of their family members, again relying on forged documentation. The agency has determined that these properties, with an aggregate market value of Rs 6.3 crore, constitute direct proceeds of the criminal activity.
"These properties, with an aggregate value of Rs 6.3 crore, are now provisionally attached as they represent direct proceeds of crime," the Enforcement Directorate confirmed. This provisional attachment is a preventive measure to ensure these assets are not dissipated during the ongoing trial, preserving them for potential confiscation if the accused are convicted.
