The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrested Siddique Khan alias Suleman Khan, 55, the alleged mastermind of an organised land-grabbing syndicate operating in Goa, on 16 July 2025 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. A history-sheeter and resident of Karwar, Karnataka, Khan is accused of orchestrating large-scale fraudulent acquisition of high-value land parcels across Goa through forged title documents, with proceeds of crime provisionally estimated at no less than ₹300 crore.

Arrest and Court Custody

The ED Panaji Zonal Office produced Khan before the Special Court (PMLA), North Goa, which granted his custody to the ED for interrogation. According to officials, the remand is aimed at tracing the complete money trail, identifying tainted properties, locating other beneficiaries, and uncovering the full extent of the conspiracy.

How the Syndicate Operated

Investigators say the syndicate fabricated forged and antedated sale deeds and title documents in the names of deceased or fictitious predecessors of rightful property owners. These documents were then used to fraudulently mutate and transfer ownership of valuable land parcels in official land records — effectively erasing legitimate ownership on paper. The properties so acquired were subsequently sold, developed, or monetised, with the proceeds projected as untainted assets to launder the gains.

The ED initiated its money-laundering probe on the basis of multiple criminal cases registered by Goa Police against Khan and his associates for offences of forgery, cheating, and fraudulent property transfer — all scheduled offences under the PMLA. State police have already filed charge sheets in these cases.

Scale of the Fraud

The immovable properties fraudulently acquired and held by or on behalf of the accused aggregate to approximately 25 hectares (roughly 62.5 acres) of high-value land in Goa. Since no genuine consideration was paid and titles were obtained purely through forgery, the ED has provisionally estimated proceeds of crime at not less than ₹300 crore, subject to final quantification.

Broader Context

Goa's land market — driven by tourism, coastal real estate demand, and a fragmented land-records system — has historically been vulnerable to document fraud. This is not an isolated case; the ED and Goa Police have pursued several such syndicates in recent years, many involving cross-state networks. Notably, Khan's base in Karwar, Karnataka — a coastal town bordering Goa — underscores how such operations often exploit jurisdictional gaps between states. The provisional attachment of assets and custodial interrogation signal that the ED is pursuing a wider net of beneficiaries beyond the primary accused.

As the investigation progresses, further arrests and asset attachments are expected, with the final quantification of proceeds of crime likely to revise the ₹300 crore figure.