Overview

• The Enforcement Directorate’s June 17 raids froze bank balances, fixed deposits and mutual funds worth about Rs 44 crore linked to Janardan Moru Mhatre and co-accused Saiyyed Mohammad Abdul Hamid Qadri.
• Mhatre is accused of inserting duplicate mutation entries in 2005 to wrongfully claim government-owned forest land in Mauje Vahal, Panvel Taluka, and mortgage it for over Rs 207 crore in bank loans.
• Portions of the disputed land were transferred to the National Highways Authority of India for compensation payouts of Rs 42.4 crore to Mhatre and Rs 9.69 crore to Qadri.
• The money laundering probe stems from an FIR filed in September 2024 by Panvel Police following a complaint by the Alibag range forest officer.
• ED officials seized incriminating documents and continue to examine the flow of illicit funds under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.