ED Files Charges Against Two Priests Over Alleged Land Transfer Fraud in Caranzalem

Panaji, July 16, 2026: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Goa, has filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Fr Arlino De Mello, Fr Victor Conceicao Rodrigues, the then procurators of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Prabhakar Hawaldar, the then inspector of survey and land records, city survey, Panaji, and a private real estate development firm in connection with the alleged fraudulent deprivation of tenancy rights over a parcel of land located at Mitra, Caranzalem.

The prosecution complaint has been filed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, before the Special Court (PMLA) at Merces.

According to the ED, the investigation originates from an FIR registered at Panaji Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complaint alleges that between November 18, 2004, and December 5, 2006, the accused conspired to enter the name of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in the holder's column of Form 'B' relating to a 2,479-square-metre parcel of land by using forged documents, thereby depriving the original tenant family of its lawful tenancy rights.

Based on the FIR, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR). During the investigation, search operations were conducted in Goa, leading to the seizure of incriminating loose sheets and electronic devices.

The ED stated that its financial investigation found that the accused, acting in collusion, used forged documents to fraudulently register the land parcel in the name of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. This subsequently enabled its sale to a private real estate development firm through a sale deed executed on April 9, 2007, for a conspicuously modest consideration of Rs 61.9 lakh.

The agency further stated that a residential-cum-commercial project was later developed on the land, and units in the project were sold to multiple buyers, resulting in the generation and possession of proceeds of crime (PoC) estimated at approximately Rs 27.1 crore.

The ED had previously issued a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO), attaching immovable properties worth Rs 27.1 crore. These included a commercial property (hotel-cum-restaurant) at Mitra, Caranzalem, Panaji, along with two other immovable properties, identified as proceeds of crime as well as property representing the equivalent value of the proceeds generated through the alleged fraudulent transaction.

Courtesy: Time of India