PRESS RELEASE
04.06.2025
Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office has arrested Rohan Harmalkar, one of the key
masterminds behind the Goa Land Scam, on 03.06.2025 under the Prevention of Money Laundering
Act (PMLA), 2002, as part of the ongoing probe in the land scam case involving Rohan Harmalkar
and others. He was produced before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Mapusa on 04.06.2025 and
the Hon’ble Court granted ED custody of the accused till 18.06.2025 (14 days).
ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIRs registered by the Goa Police against Rohan
Harmalkar and others under various sections of the IPC,1860, for defrauding rightful property owners
through fraudulent means, including impersonation, creation of fake documents, tampering with
revenue records, etc. These properties—originally owned by individuals and family estates—were
unlawfully sold without their consent, causing significant financial and legal distress to the victims.
ED investigation revealed that Rohan Harmalkar is one of the key conspirators of the Goa Land
Scam, orchestrating the forgery and manipulation of sale deeds for multiple properties. He has also
impersonated legitimate heirs, counterfeited government stamps, and used these forged documents
as genuine to unlawfully acquire properties.
Earlier, on 24.04.2025, search operations conducted by the ED discovered voluminous incriminating
property documents indicating manipulation of land records and fraudulent transfers of high-value
land parcels spanning several lakh square meters in prime tourist hotspots such as Anjuna, Arpora,
and Assagao in Bardez Taluka, Goa.
During the searches and the post-search investigation, Rohan Harmalkar remained absconding. He
was subsequently arrested on 03.06.2025.
Further investigation is under progress.
