ED arrests alleged kingpin under PMLA in Goa land fraud case

Traders Union
All News
Financial News
Arrest in Goa land fraud

Highlights

ED arrested Siddique Khan alias Suleman Khan on July 16, 2026, as the alleged kingpin of a land fraud gang under PMLA.
According to the police charge sheet and investigation, the gang illegally registered about 25 hectares (62.5 acres) of land in their names using forged documents.
The provisional estimate of proceeds of crime exceeds ₹300 crore; ED has been granted 5 days' custody, and the investigation into beneficiaries and money trail is ongoing.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Basis of Arrest and Investigation

As per the Enforcement Directorate, the Panaji Zonal Office in Goa arrested Siddique Khan alias Suleman Khan, a resident of Karwar, Karnataka, on July 16, 2026, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The agency states that the accused is the main mastermind and primary beneficiary of an organized gang allegedly involved in large-scale illegal possession of high-value land in Goa.

ED initiated this money laundering probe based on several criminal cases registered by Goa Police against the accused and his associates. These cases involve forgery, fraud, and alleged fraudulent transfer of real estate, which are considered scheduled offences under PMLA, while the state police have already filed charge sheets in these matters.

Scope of Properties and Further Action

The investigation revealed that the gang allegedly prepared fake and backdated sale deeds and ownership documents, using the names of deceased or fictitious ancestors of actual owners in many cases. According to ED, these documents were used to allegedly manipulate official land records and register ownership of the properties in the names of the accused and his associates.

The agency claims that the properties acquired in this manner were later sold, developed, or monetized, generating alleged proceeds of crime. The immovable properties allegedly acquired and held on behalf of the accused are estimated at about 25 hectares, or roughly 62.5 acres.

According to ED, since no actual payment was made for these properties and ownership was allegedly obtained through forgery, the provisional estimate of proceeds of crime is at least ₹300 crore, though the final calculation is pending. After the accused was produced before the Special PMLA Court, North Goa, the agency was granted five days' custody to trace the entire money trail, identify the alleged tainted properties, and other beneficiaries.

Our previous report detailed ED's money laundering probe into alleged networks linked to terror funding and illegal infiltration across several states. It covered seizures of cash, gold, documents, and digital devices, as well as aspects like fake identity documents, human trafficking, and alleged layered transactions and mule accounts via trusts/entities.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.