The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive search and seizure operations at multiple residential and business premises linked to Models Real Estate Developers and its partners in Panaji, Goa, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on Tuesday. These actions form part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged large-scale land-grabbing operation involving a highly valuable parcel of land located at Caranzalem, one of Goa’s prime areas.
The ED initiated its probe based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Panaji Police Station. The case pertains to an alleged criminal conspiracy aimed at illegally occupying tenanted agricultural land, specifically Chalta No. 44, located at Caranzalem. This land originally belonged to the family of Tanu Gauns, who are said to have had lawful tenancy rights over the property before the alleged fraudulent transactions took place.
According to the enforcement agency, its investigation has uncovered that several accused individuals, including officials associated with the Archdiocese of Goa and a then-serving official from the City Survey Office, allegedly acted in collusion with the late Peter Vaz, a former partner of Models Real Estate Developers. The ED claims that this group worked together to manipulate official revenue and land records as part of a deliberate and coordinated conspiracy.
The agency further alleged that the name of the legitimate tenant was unlawfully removed from Form ‘B’ of the city survey records by using forged and fabricated documents. This manipulation of official records allegedly paved the way for the illegal transfer and sale of the disputed land to Models Real Estate Developers, represented at the time by Peter Vaz.
Following the acquisition, the partnership firm reportedly went on to develop a residential housing project named ‘Models Mystique’ on the disputed land. The ED has stated that the development and sale of apartments on the property resulted in the generation of additional proceeds of crime, which are now under investigation as part of the money laundering case.
During the course of the searches, the ED carried out operations at the residential premises of Diogo Nathan Vaz and Natalina Estela Vaz in Caranzalem, as well as at the registered office of Models Real Estate Developers located at Santa Inez. The agency seized several incriminating documents, including a sale and purchase agreement dated February 2, 2007, along with title deeds of a property in Dubai that was allegedly acquired by Peter Vaz.
In addition to physical documents, the ED also seized digital devices during the searches. According to the agency, preliminary examination of these devices revealed contacts with international investors, mainly from the United Arab Emirates, suggesting the possibility of cash-based and overseas transactions linked to the alleged proceeds of crime. The searches also led to the recovery of documents confirming the lawful tenancy rights of Tanu Gauns over the disputed land, as well as records related to the estimated construction costs of the apartments built on the property.
