ED arrests one after attaching properties worth Rs 232cr in land grab case

Panaji: The Enforcement Directorate, Panaji, on Tuesday arrested Mohammed Suhail, also known as Michael, in connection with an alleged large scale land grab syndicate in Goa.

Suhail was arrested under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED has already attached 52 illegally acquired properties valued at approximately Rs 232 crore in connection with the case.

“Suhail, the alleged mastermind of a large scale land grabbing syndicate in Goa, was arrested from the Colvale Correctional Home, where he was already lodged in judicial custody in connection with another land grab case,” the ED said.

He was produced before the PMLA special court at Merces, which granted the ED custody for four days. The directorate initiated an investigation under the PMLA based on an FIR registered by the Goa police, and a subsequent chargesheet filed by the special investigation team (SIT).

The police case was registered against Suhail, his wife Anjum Shaikh, and an associate, Nure Faijal Bhatkar, for offences including cheating, forgery of valuable security, and using forged documents as genuine under various sections of the IPC.

ED investigations revealed that Suhail was the kingpin of a syndicate involved in the illegal acquisition of numerous properties across Goa. The investigation is based on a complaint where Suhail and his associates allegedly forged death certificates to create a fictitious legal heir.

“They then fraudulently executed a succession deed to illegally acquire a property at Anjuna, which was subsequently sold for Rs 50 lakh,” the ED said.

Investigations under the PMLA have exposed a deep-rooted conspiracy and a consistent modus operandi. “Suhail, in collusion with his associates, would identify vacant properties, forge documents, and manipulate records in govt departments to create fake ownership histories,” the ED said. “These properties were then illegally mutated in the names of their associates and subsequently sold. In a related case wherein Suhail is the prime accused, the ED has already attached 52 illegally acquired properties valued at approximately Rs 232.7 crore, and has filed a prosecution complaint against Suhail and 35 others.”

The directorate further said that during that investigation, Suhail himself disclosed his involvement in the illegal acquisition of over 100 properties. “For a significant period, he was non-traceable and non-cooperative, deliberately evading multiple summons,” it said.