Panaji: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Panaji Zonal Office, on December 16, 2025, conducted fresh search and seizure operations at the residential and business premises of M/s Models Real Estate Developers and its partners in Panaji, Goa, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The searches are part of an ongoing PMLA investigation into an alleged large-scale land grab involving the illegal acquisition of prime property at Caranzalem, Goa. The ED initiated the probe based on an FIR registered by Panaji Police Station, which pertains to a criminal conspiracy to unlawfully usurp tenanted agricultural land bearing Chalta No. 44 (New 44A) of P.T. Sheet No. 162 at Caranzalem, belonging to the family of Mr. Tanu Gauns.
According to the ED, the investigation has revealed that the accused persons, including officials of the Archdiocese of Goa and a then official of the City Survey Office, allegedly acted in connivance with late Peter Vaz, former partner of M/s Models Real Estate Developers. The conspiracy allegedly involved fraudulent manipulation of revenue records, wherein the name of the lawful tenant was illegally deleted from Form ‘B’ of City Survey records using forged and fabricated documents.
As a result, the disputed land was unlawfully sold to M/s Models Real Estate Developers, represented by late Peter Vaz. The firm later developed a residential project named “Models Mystique” on the impugned land, thereby generating further proceeds of crime.
During the searches at the residential premises of Diogo Nathan Vaz and Mrs. Natalina Estela Vaz at Caranzalem, and at the registered office of M/s Models Real Estate Developers at Santa Inez, the ED seized incriminating material. This included a sale and purchase agreement dated February 2, 2007, and title deeds of a property in Dubai, UAE, purchased by late Peter Vaz.
The ED also seized digital devices, which revealed contacts of international investors, primarily from the UAE, allegedly indicating cash-based transactions. Additionally, documents establishing the lawful tenancy rights of Tanu Gauns on the disputed property and records indicating the estimated construction cost of apartments on the impugned land were recovered.
Further investigation in the case is currently underway.
