Goa Land Scam: ED Arrests MGP Leader
• Mastermind Behind ₹1,000-Crore Land Fraud Nabbed
• Political Real Estate Nexus Exposed in Goa
• Forged Titles, Illegal Sales in Anjuna, Arpora, Assagao
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
MGP leader Rohan Harmalkar has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for masterminding a ₹1,000-crore land scam in Goa. Accused of using forged documents to illegally sell prime properties in tourist hubs, Harmalkar faces ED and SIT probes. His arrest reveals deep political and bureaucratic collusion in Goa’s real estate sector.
In a major breakthrough in the multi-crore Goa land scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday night arrested Rohan Harmalkar — a businessman-turned-politician and leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). Harmalkar is accused of masterminding a conspiracy involving forged land titles and the unlawful sale of high-value properties in Goa’s prime real estate zones.
The ED action follows coordinated raids on April 24 and 25 at multiple locations across the state. These were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), after preliminary findings from the Goa Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) suggested deep-rooted manipulation of land records and collusion with bureaucratic networks.
Contents
Goa Land Scam: ED Arrests MGP Leader• Mastermind Behind ₹1,000-Crore Land Fraud Nabbed• Political Real Estate Nexus Exposed in Goa• Forged Titles, Illegal Sales in Anjuna, Arpora, AssagaoReal Estate Fraud in Goa: Scam Targets Prime Tourist ZonesGoa Land Scam: Harmalkar’s Political Ambitions and Shifting LoyaltiesCourt Remand and ED Custody: Legal Proceedings BeginAlso Read: Kurla Plot Handed to Adani in Controversial Land Deal.SIT and ED Coordination: Is a Larger Syndicate Involved?Goa Land Scam: More Arrests Likely as Probe Widens
Real Estate Fraud in Goa: Scam Targets Prime Tourist Zones
The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team has learned that Harmalkar and his alleged accomplices used forged title deeds to fraudulently claim ownership over vast land parcels in areas like Anjuna, Arpora, and Assagao — some of Goa’s most valuable tourist hotspots in Bardez Taluka. According to ED sources, incriminating documents recovered during the raids suggest the scam may involve over ₹1,000 crore in illicit transactions.
These documents include manipulated property records, false ownership claims, and forged government certificates that were allegedly used to transfer ownership of land without the consent of rightful owners. The illegal sales reportedly span several hundred acres of coastal and semi-urban land, which had been earmarked for eco-sensitive development or were under dispute.
Goa Land Scam: Harmalkar’s Political Ambitions and Shifting Loyalties
Rohan Harmalkar first entered the political arena during the 2022 Goa Assembly elections, contesting from the Cumbarjua constituency as an independent after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied him a ticket. He later joined the MGP in 2024, attempting to rebuild his political influence within Goa’s regional party framework.
Despite his relatively short political career, Harmalkar has faced multiple controversies. In November 2023, he was arrested by the Goa Police for allegedly assaulting a businessman in Arpora. His name had also surfaced in two earlier land grabbing cases, both under investigation by the Goa SIT.
Court Remand and ED Custody: Legal Proceedings Begin
On Wednesday, Harmalkar was produced before the PMLA court in Goa, where he was remanded to ED custody for 14 days. The ED plans to interrogate him further to trace financial transactions, identify key accomplices, and unearth the full extent of the real estate racket.
Officials believe the scam could not have been executed without assistance from local land registry offices and corrupt intermediaries in the state’s property registration system. The probe is now expected to widen, possibly involving high-ranking bureaucrats and developers with ties to Goa’s political elite.
Also Read: Kurla Plot Handed to Adani in Controversial Land Deal.
SIT and ED Coordination: Is a Larger Syndicate Involved?
The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team can confirm that both the SIT and ED are coordinating efforts to identify whether Harmalkar was working alone or as part of a broader syndicate. Investigators are also examining political patronage networks, as Harmalkar’s rise within MGP and connections with former BJP associates remain under scrutiny.
The SIT has also sought support from forensic audit teams to examine digital transactions linked to benami accounts and shell companies allegedly used to launder proceeds from illegal land sales. Several properties in Arpora and Anjuna are currently under attachment, pending verification of ownership.
Goa Land Scam: More Arrests Likely as Probe Widens
Sprouts News sources within the ED suggest that multiple arrests could follow, including brokers, document forgers, and real estate agents who played key roles in the conspiracy. The ₹1,000 crore land scam is being described as one of the largest property fraud cases in Goa’s recent history, with potential national-level political implications if deeper links to party finances or election funding are uncovered.
Environmental activists and civil society groups have also demanded a full public audit of land deals in Bardez and adjoining talukas, calling the scam “a clear failure of regulatory oversight.”
Sprouts SIT will continue tracking developments in this case, with a deeper focus on bureaucratic complicity, land mafia networks, and the misuse of political power in manipulating Goa’s fragile land ecosystem.
