PANAJI
Absconding “hardened criminal” Siddiqui Suleman Khan, was reportedly under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Goa and due for questioning in connection with money laundering linked to several cases of land fraud.
Sources revealed to The Goan that Suleman was under the radar amidst the seizure of illegally acquired properties and those under investigation. His escape, however, could become an obstacle to the ongoing probe until his re-arrest.
The ED, last year, intensified its scrutiny on Vikrant Shetty, Mohammed Suhail and Rajkumar Maithi and several others for their alleged involvement in the large-scale scam. The investigation led to the provisional attachment of 31 immovable properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Of these, the ED recently confirmed possession of 19 properties.
Moreover, Shetty, who was in custody for 10 months following his arrest by ED, was granted bail by the High Court of Bombay at Goa this month.
The ED launched a probe based on FIRs by the Special Investigation Team (SIT-Land Grab) (Goa Police) and various police stations. Several accused including Suleman are named in police cases.
“ED investigations revealed that the accused acquired several immovable properties illegally, using forged documents to claim ancestral ownership. These forged documents were used to manipulate land records through succession deeds or inventories. Some of the properties were sold to buyers from Goa and other states,” the ED stated earlier.
