Anjuna p’yat member, businessman under scanner
MAPUSA
In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out early morning raids on Tuesday in the coastal villages of Anjuna and Assagao in connection with alleged land grabbing cases.
Teams of ED officials swooped down simultaneously at multiple locations, including the residence of an Anjuna panchayat member and the residence and office of a businessman situated near the Bhumika Temple in Anjuna. Searches were also conducted at the residences of two other associates linked to the duo.
According to sources, the raids were based on inputs from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Goa Police, which had earlier booked both the panchayat member and the businessman for their alleged role in fraudulent land deals.
The SIT has been probing several high-profile cases of land grabbing across Goa, many of which involved forged documents and the illegal sale of comunidade properties.
Anjuna and Assagao comunidades had themselves lodged complaints with the SIT, alleging that prime comunidade land parcels were being targeted through fraudulent ownership claims and backdoor deals. While officials maintained tight secrecy about the outcome of Tuesday’s operations, the raids signal that ED is now examining the money trail and possible laundering of proceeds generated through the alleged scams.
The coastal belt of Anjuna and Assagao, known for its soaring real estate prices and popularity among investors, has witnessed a spurt of land-related disputes in recent years, many of which are under active investigation. The ED is expected to question the individuals named in the SIT cases and scrutinise property records and financial transactions linked to the alleged land grabs.
