ED charge sheet names 2 ex-Archdiocese of Goa officials in ₹27 crore land fraud
Synopsis
The ED has charged two former Archdiocese of Goa and Daman officials, a retired government land records inspector, and a real estate firm under PMLA for allegedly using forged documents to strip a family of tenancy rights over a Panaji plot — then selling it for ₹61.97 lakh and developing it into a project that generated ₹27.10 crore. Properties worth ₹27.10 crore have already been provisionally attached.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate filed a PMLA charge sheet before a Special Court at Merces, Goa against four accused.
Named accused include former Archdiocese Procurators Arlino De Mello and Victor Conceicao Rodrigues , ex-land records inspector Prabhakar Rama Hawaldar , and a private real estate firm.
The alleged fraud involved forged documents used to record the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman as holder of a 2,479 sq metre plot in Caranzalem, Panaji , depriving the original tenant family of its rights.
The land was sold to a real estate developer for ₹61.97 lakh on 9 April 2007 ; the subsequent project generated alleged proceeds of crime of ₹27.10 crore .
The ED conducted searches on 16 December 2025 and has provisionally attached properties worth ₹27.10 crore , including a hotel-cum-restaurant at Mitra, Caranzalem.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet before a Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court at Merces, Goa, naming four accused — including two former Procurators of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and a private real estate firm — in connection with a fraudulent land tenancy case in which proceeds of crime have been quantified at ₹27.10 crore.
The Accused and the Charges
The charge sheet names Arlino De Mello and Victor Conceicao Rodrigues, both former Procurators of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, alongside Prabhakar Rama Hawaldar, the then Inspector of Survey and Land Records at City Survey, Panaji, and a private real estate development firm as a legal entity. All four have been charged under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002.
The case centres on a 2,479 square metre parcel of land bearing Chalta No. 44 of P.T. Sheet No. 162 of City Survey in Panaji, located at Mitra, Caranzalem in North Goa.
How the Fraud Was Allegedly Executed
According to the ED, the accused allegedly conspired between 18 November 2004 and 5 December 2006 to fraudulently record the name of the Archdiocese in the Holder's column of Form 'B' pertaining to the land parcel, using forged documents. This allegedly deprived the original tenant family of its lawful tenancy rights.
The land was subsequently sold to a private real estate development firm via a sale deed dated 9 April 2007, for a consideration of ₹61.97 lakh — a figure the ED has described as conspicuously modest given the land's location and size. The developer then constructed a residential-cum-commercial project on the site and sold units to multiple buyers, generating alleged proceeds of crime amounting to ₹27.10 crore.
ED's Investigation and Searches
The investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by Panaji Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The ED subsequently recorded an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and launched a parallel financial investigation.
On 16 December 2025, the ED conducted search operations under Section 17 of the PMLA at locations in Goa, recovering incriminating loose sheets and electronic devices during the exercise.
Properties Attached
Prior to filing the charge sheet, the ED had issued a provisional attachment order covering immovable properties valued at ₹27.10 crore. The attached assets include a commercial property (hotel-cum-restaurant) at Mitra in Caranzalem, Panaji, and two additional immovable properties, identified as either direct proceeds of crime or assets representing equivalent value of the fraudulent transaction.
What Happens Next
With the charge sheet now before the Special PMLA Court at Merces, the court is expected to take cognisance and determine the next course of proceedings. The case, which involves alleged conspiracy spanning over two years and a multi-crore money laundering trail, is likely to draw close scrutiny given the involvement of a prominent ecclesiastical institution's former officials.
Point of View
Filed before the charge sheet, signals confidence in the paper trail — but the real test is whether the Special PMLA Court finds the forged-documents chain strong enough to sustain conviction, particularly given the time elapsed since the original conspiracy (2004–2006). Goa's land records have historically been contested terrain, and this case may sharpen calls for digitisation and independent audit of City Survey records.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ED's PMLA case against the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman officials about?
The ED has filed a charge sheet alleging that two former Procurators of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, along with a retired land records inspector and a real estate firm, used forged documents to fraudulently record the Archdiocese as the holder of a 2,479 sq metre plot in Caranzalem, Panaji. This allegedly deprived the original tenant family of its lawful rights and enabled a real estate project that generated ₹27.10 crore in alleged proceeds of crime.
Who are the four accused named in the ED charge sheet?
The four accused are Arlino De Mello and Victor Conceicao Rodrigues (former Procurators of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman), Prabhakar Rama Hawaldar (former Inspector of Survey and Land Records, City Survey, Panaji), and a private real estate development firm named as a legal entity. All are charged under the PMLA, 2002.
How much money is involved in the Goa land tenancy fraud case?
The ED has quantified the proceeds of crime at ₹27.10 crore — the amount generated by selling units in a residential-cum-commercial project built on the disputed land. The land itself was allegedly sold to the real estate developer for just ₹61.97 lakh via a sale deed dated 9 April 2007.
What properties has the ED attached in this case?
The ED has provisionally attached immovable properties worth ₹27.10 crore, including a commercial property (hotel-cum-restaurant) at Mitra in Caranzalem, Panaji, and two additional properties identified as proceeds of crime or assets representing equivalent value of the fraudulent transaction.
What happens now that the charge sheet has been filed?
The charge sheet has been placed before the Special PMLA Court at Merces, Goa. The court is expected to take cognisance of the matter and set the timeline for further proceedings, including the trial of the four accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
