PANAJI
Forged sale deeds allegedly used to grab properties worth around Rs 278 crore, followed by routing of the proceeds through third-party and benami bank accounts, have formed the basis of a money-laundering prosecution against alleged habitual land-grabber Siddique alias Suleman Khan.
The Enforcement Directorate, Goa, filed the prosecution complaint soon after it issued a provisional attachment order covering the four prime properties, which had the same aggregate fair market value of Rs 278.16 crore.
The ED’s probe is also based on four chargesheets filed by the Special Investigation Team (Land Grabbing) of the Crime Branch of Goa Police in FIRs registered at Mapusa and Valpoi police stations. “ED investigation found that Khan allegedly devised a criminal conspiracy to grab valuable immovable properties belonging to their rightful owners in North Goa. The alleged modus operandi involved fabrication of sale deeds and planting them in the registration records of the Sub-Registrar offices at Bardez and Valpoi using counterfeit stamps and seals,” the ED said. The agency further alleged that Khan monetised the fraudulent claims over the properties and routed the proceeds through bank accounts held by third parties and benami account-holders. The agency also alleged that a partnership firm operated using a second PAN was used in the process, with the funds being substantially converted into cash to project the alleged proceeds of crime as legitimate.
“The properties allegedly grabbed through the scheme, valued at Rs 278 crore approx, have been identified by the ED as proceeds of crime and provisionally attached under the PMLA,” it said. Khan was arrested by the ED on July 16, 2026. After completion of his ED custody, he was remanded to judicial custody and is presently lodged at the Central Jail, Colvale. The prosecution complaint has now been placed before the Special Court for further proceedings.
