ED Raids Real Estate Premises in Caranzalem Over Land Grabbing Case
Digital Goa, Dec 17 – The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office, carried out search and seizure operations at the residential and business premises of M/s Models Real Estate Developers and its partners in Panaji, Goa, on December 16. The action was taken in connection with an alleged land grabbing case at Caranzalem, as part of an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as stated in a press release by ED.
The investigation is focused on the alleged illegal acquisition of prime tenanted agricultural land bearing Chalta No. 44 (New 44A) of P.T. Sheet No. 162 at Caranzalem, belonging to the family of Tanu Gauns. The ED initiated the probe based on an FIR registered by the Panaji Police Station.
According to the ED's investigation, the accused persons, including officials of the Archdiocese of Goa and the then official of the City Survey Office, in connivance with the late Peter Vaz, former partner of M/s Models Real Estate Developers, entered into a criminal conspiracy to fraudulently manipulate revenue records. As part of this conspiracy, the name of the lawful tenant was illegally deleted from Form ‘B’ of the City Survey records using forged and fabricated documents.
The disputed property was subsequently sold to M/s Models Real Estate Developers, represented by the late Peter Vaz, following which a residential project, “Models Mystique,” was developed on the land, allegedly generating further proceeds of crime.
During the searches at the residences of Diogo Nathan Vaz and Natalina Estela Vaz at Caranzalem and at the registered office of the firm at Santa Inez, the ED seized incriminating material, including a sale and purchase agreement dated February 2, 2007, and title deeds of a property in Dubai, UAE, purchased by the late Peter Vaz. The ED also seized digital devices containing contacts of international investors, mainly from the UAE, allegedly indicating cash-based transactions. Documents establishing the lawful tenancy rights of Tanu Gauns and records relating to the estimated cost of construction of apartments on the disputed land were also recovered.
The Enforcement Directorate is a premier financial intelligence agency in India, responsible for investigating and preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. The ED's actions in this case highlight the agency's commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that illegal activities are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
M/s Models Real Estate Developers, a prominent real estate firm in Goa, has been at the center of this controversy. The company, represented by the late Peter Vaz, has been accused of being involved in a complex scheme to acquire land illegally and develop a residential project, which has raised significant concerns among local residents and authorities.
The ongoing investigation by the ED is expected to shed more light on the extent of the alleged criminal activities and the involvement of various stakeholders. The seizure of incriminating evidence and the involvement of international investors suggest that the case may have far-reaching implications beyond the local real estate market in Caranzalem.
