Mohammad Sohail, a central figure in one of Goa’s largest land grab investigations, has been re-arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and remanded to three days of police custody, officials confirmed on Saturday. His re-arrest marks a critical step forward in the state’s ongoing crackdown on organized land fraud.
Authorities said Sohail was taken into custody again as part of the SIT’s expanded probe into a network of land grab cases involving forged documents, fake power of attorney papers, and fraudulent sales of properties belonging largely to NRIs and senior citizens. These properties were illegally transferred using falsified records and impersonated identities, according to investigators.
The SIT was constituted by the Goa government in 2022 in response to mounting complaints about widespread real estate scams. Since its formation, the team has filed multiple FIRs and arrested several individuals believed to be part of a coordinated network of fraudsters and insiders who manipulated land ownership records for personal gain.
“Sohail’s re-arrest is intended to uncover further details of the racket,” an official said. “We suspect he has vital information about others involved in these transactions and their methods of operation.”
Police believe Sohail may have coordinated fraudulent deals and could lead them to additional suspects or government officials who aided the scam through access to sensitive land records.
The SIT has emphasized its commitment to pursuing every lead in the case, stating that rooting out corruption in land dealings is essential to restoring public confidence in Goa’s property market. Investigations remain ongoing.