In a major action in the case of alleged property scam in Goa, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has temporarily attached three immovable properties worth Rs 6.27 crore. This action has been taken under the Money Laundering Act. According to ED’s Panaji zonal office, this investigation is going on against Estevan D’Souza, Moses Fernandes and Mohammad Suhail and others.
The agency had started this investigation on the basis of the FIR lodged by Goa Police in Porvorim police station and Economic Offenses Wing (EOC). In these FIRs, allegations like criminal conspiracy, fraud, forgery and using someone else’s identity have been made.
What was revealed in the ED investigation?
Investigation revealed that the accused conspired among themselves and captured many valuable lands and houses in Goa. For this, he prepared fake documents by posing as the real owner. Through fake sale deed, fake identity card and fake power of attorney, the property was transferred to his name or to his family members.
Not only this, the accused also took money from the buyers by pretending that these properties were genuine and entered into sale agreements on the basis of fake documents.
Action has already been taken in the matter
Even before this, ED has attached properties worth Rs 11.82 crore and Rs 60.05 crore in this case. In such a situation, a total of properties worth Rs 78.14 crore have been seized in the proceedings so far. These properties were purchased by the accused in the name of themselves and their families. These attachments have also been approved by the Adjudicating Authority under PMLA.
ED has also filed a prosecution complaint in the Special PMLA Court, Goa against Estevan D’Souza and other accused in this case. The court has taken cognizance of this complaint and the case is currently being heard. Investigation also revealed that the accused had got three more properties mutated in the name of their family through fake documents. These properties have now been attached by ED under the Money Laundering Act.
