PANAJI
The Special Investigation Team (SIT-land grab) has filed a chargesheet against four persons including the 'mastermind' Mohd Suhail and an 80-year-old bedridden woman in the alleged land forgery and cheating case. This is the 13th chargesheet filed by the SIT.
The case earlier registered at Mapusa Police Station in March 2022 was on a complaint lodged by Vincent D’Souza, a resident of New Delhi alleging that the accused forged documents and impersonated legal owners to grab the property at Assagao.
The chargesheet running into 795 pages has been filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mapusa.
Details shared with the media reveal that prior to March 2021, the accused persons allegedly conspired to prepare forged documents in respect of property bearing Survey No.78/2 of Assagao village in Bardez by impersonating legal heirs of the said property. The forged documents were then allegedly used before authorities to fraudulently transfer rights over the land, thereby depriving the rightful heirs of their legal share.
The SIT arrested Mohd Suhail, a native of Karnataka residing in Pilar (Goa) on June 27, 2025 and described him as the mastermind of the conspiracy. The chargesheet alleges that he was responsible for preparing forged documents, creating bank accounts, and subsequently destroying incriminating evidence.
Another accused, Royson Rodrigues (49), a resident of Siolim, was arrested on May 8, 2025 and is presently on conditional bail. The SIT stated that he allegedly prepared a forged deed of succession in support of the conspiracy.
Two other accused named in the chargesheet are Raju Methi (44) of Miramar, who is alleged to be a close associate of Suhail, and 80-year-old Paulina Juliana Diniz alias Palmarina Gonsalves of Cuncolim, who is said to have assisted in the conspiracy.
Police further informed the court that three other associated accused — Mariano Antonio Teles Gonsalves, Branca Rodrigues, and Premanand Desai — have since expired.
The matter has been fixed for hearing on October 6.
