Special Court ordered to rule within three weeks
PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Special Court, Panaji, to decide a fresh bail application by alleged land grab accused Rohan Harmalkar within three weeks of receiving it.
Justice Shreeram Shirsat issued the direction while allowing Harmalkar to withdraw his current bail application, after the Special Public Prosecutor informed the court that a chargesheet in the case had been filed on July 31, 2025.
Following the change in circumstances, Harmalkar’s counsel sought permission to withdraw the pending plea and approach the Special Court afresh. The High Court granted liberty to file a new application and clarified that all contentions remain open.
The order stated that the Special Court must hear and decide the fresh application on its own merits, after allowing the prosecution to be heard. The matter was disposed of as withdrawn.
In June, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Harmalkar -- accused of illegally acquiring large tracts of unattended land, particularly in Bardez -- over a month after unearthing a Rs 1,600 crore land scam in the State.
Harmalkar allegedly had several buyers from the NCR and other northern states lined up for properties valued at over Rs 1,000 crore. The ED also seized original property documents linked to assets worth over Rs 600 crore.
Identifying Harmalkar as the mastermind, the ED alleged he orchestrated a network of impersonators and used forged documents to sell properties owned by private individuals and family estates without their knowledge or consent.
