Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has uncovered a massive land scam in Goa, leading to the seizure of property documents and assets valued at over Rs. 1,600 Crore.
On April 24 and 25, 2025, ED officials carried out search operations across multiple locations in the state under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting individuals involved in a large-scale conspiracy to illegally appropriate land.
The investigation pinpointed Rohan Harmalkar as the key mastermind of the scam.
Harmalkar, along with several associates, orchestrated a complex scheme to illegally acquire land from rightful owners using fraudulent tactics such as impersonation, the creation of fake documents, and tampering with revenue records.
These properties, originally owned by individuals and families, were unlawfully sold without their consent, leading to severe financial and legal repercussions for the victims.
During the search operations, the ED recovered incriminating documents, including forged title deeds, related to several high-value land transactions.
The total market value of these properties exceeds Rs. 1,000 Crore. The seized documents pertain to land parcels spanning several lakhs of square meters in prime tourist destinations like Anjuna, Arpora, and Asagoan in Bardez Taluka.
Additionally, original documents of immovable properties worth more than Rs. 600 Crore were seized by the authorities.
The investigation also revealed that the proceeds of these illegal land deals were laundered through various individuals and benami entities.
The illicit funds were subsequently used to acquire luxury assets, including real estate and high-end vehicles.
ED officials are now focused on tracing the money trail, identifying other beneficiaries of the scam, and uncovering the roles of government officials potentially involved in facilitating the illegal transactions.
The investigation is ongoing, with the ED vowing to continue its efforts to combat financial crimes and bring the culprits to justice.
Further updates will follow as investigations progress.
