Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office has provisionally attached three immovable properties with a total market value of ₹6.27 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation against Estevan D’Souza and others.
According to a press release issued by the ED, the investigation was initiated based on FIRs registered by Goa Police at Porvorim Police Station and the Economic Offences Cell, relating to offences such as criminal conspiracy, cheating, impersonation and forgery under the Indian Penal Code.
The ED investigation revealed that Estevan D’Souza, along with Moses Fernandes and Mohammed Suhail, allegedly conspired with others to fraudulently grab several immovable properties in Goa. The accused allegedly impersonated original property owners and used forged documents, including fake sale deeds, fabricated identity credentials and forged power of attorney documents.
Investigators said the accused also allegedly induced buyers and collected money by executing fraudulent sale deeds and agreements for these illegally acquired properties.
Earlier in the investigation, the ED had attached immovable properties worth ₹11.82 crore and ₹60.05 crore, which were allegedly acquired by the accused in their own names and in the names of family members. These attachments were subsequently confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under PMLA.
The ED has also filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Court (PMLA), Goa, against Estevan D’Souza and others for the offence of money laundering arising from the scheduled offences. The court has taken cognizance of the complaint and the matter is currently under trial.
Further investigation revealed that the accused allegedly fraudulently mutated three additional immovable properties in the names of their family members using forged documents. These properties, valued at ₹6.27 crore, were identified as proceeds of crime under the provisions of the PMLA and have now been provisionally attached.
With the latest action, the total value of properties attached in the case has risen to approximately ₹78.14 crore, the ED said, adding that further investigation is underway.
