Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Mumbai Zonal Office has conducted search
operations at multiple locations across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai under the provisions of
the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on 17.06.2025. The search
operation led to freezing of bank balances, Fixed Deposits and Mutual funds to the tune of
approx Rs. 44 Crore and seizure of cash amounting to Rs. 16.5 Lakh apart from large
number of incriminating documents.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Panvel Police Station
against J M Mhatre and Saiyyed Mohammad Abdul Hamid Qadri. The case pertains to
illegal acquisition of forest land and its subsequent illegal transfer to NHAI and wrong claim
of land compensation by the accused. The land under subject matter is at Survey Nos. 427/1
(area 41.70 hector) and 436/1 (area 110.60 hector) of Mauje Vahal, Taluka Panvel, DistRaigad (Subject land).
ED investigation revealed that the subject land was acquired by Government of
Maharashtra in 1975 under relevant provisions of Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition)
Act, 1975, and thereafter the name of the owner in 7/12 extract was changed to Forest
Department, Government of Maharashtra. Subsequently, the Mutation entry of subject land
has been tampered with and the owner name viz. Forest Department, Government of
Maharashtra was replaced with that of the accused illegally. Further, some parcel of land
was illegally sold to NHAI, for which Mhatre received illegal compensation of Rs.42.4 Crore
and Qadri received illegal compensation of Rs.9.69 Crore.
The main accused in the case is J M Mhatre. He is a business man and local landlord.
He is director in M/s J M Mhatre Infra Private Limited.
