A big case of land grab has come to light in Goa. The Enforcement Directorate raided 13 locations in Goa and Hyderabad. This action is related to the illegal occupation of the society in Anjuna and Asgaon areas. Investigation has revealed that Yashwant Sawant and his colleagues used old fake papers to get about 3.5 lakh square meters of land in their names. Some of these lands were also sold, which earned crores. The price of these lands is said to be more than Rs 1200 crore.
In raids, ED got 72 lakh rupees cash, 7 luxury vehicles (porsche, BMW, Range Rover, Mercedes). Along with this, many bank accounts and FDs of the accused were also seized. The ED says that the investigation is still going on and this may reveal even more large land grabbing networks spread in Goa.
In another case before The Panaji Regional Office of the ED conducted a search and seizure campaign in several campuses in Goa on five September under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Gold loan fraud from fake gold jewelery
Gundu Kelvekar and Hemant Raikar were searched in residential and commercial complexes in a bank fraud case related to sanctioning gold loans in exchange for fake gold jewelery, resulting in a loss of Rs 2.63 crore to UCO Bank.
The ED started an investigation under the PMLA on the basis of an FIR lodged by the Economic Offenses Cell of Northern Goa. The FIR alleges that Gundu Kelvekar received several gold loans from cheating from the bank’s Verna, Fatarda and Madgaon branches in a criminal conspiracy with the golden evaluation Hemant Raikar listed for UCO Bank.
These loans were obtained by pledging fake yellow metal jewelery, which was deliberately proved by Hemant Raikar as a real gold. The ED investigation revealed that between 2019 and 2023, Gundu Kelvekar, with the help of his wife Mayuri Gundu Kelvekar, received these loans in the name of himself and his colleagues.
ED’s raid busted
A clear money collection was established in the investigation, where after distributing the loan amount to the accounts of allies, it was immediately transferred to the savings bank account of Gundu Kelvekar. A large part of this amount was withdrawn, in which Gundu Kelvekar withdraws Rs 79.65 lakh and his wife withdraws Rs 48.75 lakh.
Some funds were transferred to various institutions including bullion traders, so that the income (POC) of the crime could be shown evident. During the search operation at Gundu Kelvekar’s residence, mixed yellow metal jewelery weighing 4.5 kg was found.
An authorized evaluator confirmed that these objects were not gold, but white metals with yellow layer. The PMLA investigation has shown that the gold loans taken from fraud were taken not only from UCO Bank, but also from other public sector banks and even cooperative banks. Thus, there will be a significant increase in POC, which is currently Rs 2.63 crore. The evidence seized is being investigated to locate the entire wire of the POC.
