Panaji, Oct 14 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a significant operation targeting a land scam in Goa. On October 10, the agency executed searches at six locations in Goa, New Delhi, and Chandigarh, recovering crypto wallets, incriminating documents, and digital assets, according to an official report.

Conducted by the ED's Panaji Zonal Office, these operations were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of an ongoing inquiry into fraudulent land dealings involving Yeshwant Sawant and others.

The searches targeted the premises of Umar Zahoor Shah, Neeraj Sharma—partners of M/s Thinking of You—and Rajesh Kumar, a director of M/s Purple Martini Entertainment Pvt Ltd, as stated by the ED.

During the operation, several incriminating documents were uncovered, including Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and lease agreements related to various land parcels that were reportedly obtained through the forgery of title documents across Goa.

These documents were executed between key players involved in land-grabbing and other connected individuals. The investigation is ongoing to ascertain the roles of additional parties and to expose the full extent of the illegal land activities in Goa, the statement indicated.

The searches also led to the retrieval of six decentralized crypto wallets containing cryptocurrencies valued at approximately 1.5 lakh USDT, which have since been frozen.

Furthermore, notes and digital records showing cash investments allegedly derived from a prominent club in Goa into various land parcels linked to key individuals were also seized during the operation.

The ED's inquiry was initiated based on an FIR lodged by the Goa Police against Yeshwant Sawant and others, citing various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, for reportedly defrauding the Communidade of Anjuna—a village-level association—of its land located at Survey No. 496/1-A, Anjuna, Goa.

The accused are alleged to have forged several documents, including the Certificate of Provisional Possession dated January 26, 1952, Proceedings of Demarcation dated January 16, 1958, and the Certificate of Final Possession dated September 24, 1952, according to the ED.

The federal agency clarified that no such documents were ever issued by the Office of the Communidade of Anjuna or the Office of the Administrator of Comunidades, North Zone, Mapusa–Goa, to validate the mutation of this land in the names of the accused.

Subsequently, the accused sold portions of the land to other individuals, generating Proceeds of Crime (PoC).

Previously, on September 9, 2025, the ED conducted operations that revealed several land parcels fraudulently acquired by Shivshankar Mayekar and others in the names of friends and relatives.

The total market value of the land parcels illegally seized by the accused is estimated to surpass Rs 1,200 crore, the ED stated.

These properties, located in prime tourist regions such as Anjuna and Assagao in Bardez Taluka, Goa, encompass several lakh square meters, as noted in the statement.

In prior search operations, cash amounting to approximately Rs 72 lakh was confiscated, along with seven high-end vehicles including a Porsche Cayman, BMW 650 L, Range Rover, Mercedes Benz, BMW M5, and Audi A-6, as reported by the ED.

Additionally, multiple bank accounts and fixed deposits belonging to those involved in these transactions were frozen. Shivshankar Mayekar was arrested on October 1 for his role in the illegal acquisition of these land parcels and is currently in judicial custody.