The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Shivshankar Mayekar in connection with a massive land scam involving prime properties in Goa. The arrest was made by the ED’s Panaji Zonal Office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, according to an official statement issued on Friday.
Mayekar was taken into custody on October 1 and produced before the Special PMLA Court in Mapusa the following day. The court granted the ED nine days of custodial remand until October 10 to further investigate the case.
The money laundering probe stems from an FIR registered by the Goa Police against Yeshwant Sawant and others, alleging fraud against the Communidade of Anjuna. The accused are alleged to have used forged documents to illegally mutate prime land at Survey No. 496/1-A in Anjuna in their names. Portions of this land were later sold to third parties, generating substantial proceeds of crime.
According to the ED, investigations revealed that Mayekar played a central role in the scam. He allegedly acquired multiple land parcels across Goa illegally in the names of friends and relatives. These properties were later sold, with the proceeds routed through proxy accounts before being layered and integrated back into his own accounts.
Earlier, on September 9, the ED conducted extensive search operations and seized documentary evidence related to land parcels acquired in the names of Mayekar’s associates and relatives. These properties reportedly span several lakh square metres and are located in prime tourist hubs such as Anjuna and Assagao in Bardez taluka.
The ED estimates that the market value of the illegally grabbed properties exceeds Rs1,200 crore, making it one of the largest land scams uncovered in Goa in recent years. The agency has identified Mayekar as a key conspirator and a major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime.
Officials said Mayekar’s custodial interrogation is expected to reveal further details about the network of benami transactions, possible involvement of additional facilitators, and the complete money laundering trail.
