Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 1: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 19 immovable properties spread across prime Goa locations, including Anjuna, Assagaon, and Ucassaim, valued at approximately Rs 1,268.63 crore, the agency said on Monday. The attachment was executed on November 27 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The ED alleged that the properties were illegally acquired by a group led by Shivshankar Mayekar using fabricated and forged land documents such as Aforamento/Allotment Certificates, Certificates of Final Possession, Auto de Demarcaçao (Demarcation Certificates), historical sale deeds, and gift deeds.

Earlier searches on September 9 and 10 resulted in the seizure and freezing of bank accounts and assets worth Rs 12.85 crore. The probe originates from an FIR filed by Goa Police against Yeshwant Sawant and others for allegedly defrauding the Communidade of Anjuna concerning land at Survey No. 496/1-A.

The ED said the accused had fraudulently mutated land in their names using forged documents, later selling portions to third parties to generate proceeds of crime. Mayekar, identified as the key conspirator, allegedly acquired multiple land parcels in the names of relatives and associates. He was arrested on October 1 and remains in judicial custody.

Investigations have revealed four additional FIRs involving illegal land acquisitions in Anjuna and Assagaon, with several more parcels suspected of being acquired fraudulently. The ED said information on the properties is being shared with other enforcement agencies under PMLA inter-agency mechanisms.

According to the agency, the Mayekar-led group followed a systematic modus operandi: identifying undervalued land, fabricating title documents, mutating properties in frontmen’s names, and selling them to third parties to generate illicit profits. The ED confirmed that the probe is ongoing.