PANAJI
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office, conducted fresh search and seizure operations in connection with a high-profile land grabbing case in Goa.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ED stated that searches were carried out on Tuesday at the residential and business premises of M/s Models Real Estate Developers and its partners in Panaji under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The action forms part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal acquisition of prime land at Caranzalem.
According to the ED, the case originates from an FIR registered by the Panaji Police Station and pertains to a criminal conspiracy to usurp tenanted agricultural land bearing Chalta No. 44 (New 44A) of PT Sheet No. 162 at Caranzalem, belonging to the family of Tanu Gauns.
The ED investigation has revealed that the accused, including officials of the Archdiocese of Goa and a former official of the City Survey Office, allegedly acted in connivance with late Peter Vaz, former partner of M/s Models Real Estate Developers, to fraudulently manipulate revenue records. As part of the alleged conspiracy, the name of the lawful tenant was illegally deleted from Form ‘B’ of the City Survey records using forged and fabricated documents.
The agency stated that the disputed property was subsequently sold to M/s Models Real Estate Developers, represented by late Peter Vaz. The partnership firm later developed a residential project, “Models Mystique,” on the land, allegedly generating further proceeds of crime.
During the searches at the residential premises of Diogo Nathan Vaz and Natalina Estela Vaz at Caranzalem, and at the registered office of M/s Models Real Estate Developers at Santa Inez, the ED seized incriminating material. This included a sale and purchase agreement dated February 2, 2007, and title deeds of a property in Dubai, UAE, purchased by late Peter Vaz.
The ED further said that digital devices seized during the searches revealed contacts of international investors, mainly from the UAE, allegedly indicating cash-based transactions. Documents establishing the lawful tenancy rights of Tanu Gauns and records related to the estimated cost of construction of apartments on the disputed land were also recovered.
