ED attaches Rs 1,000-cr assets in Goa illegal iron ore mining case

The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday said it has attached assets worth more than Rs 1,023 crore, including properties located in Singapore, in an alleged illegal iron ore mining case in Goa. A provisional order has been issued on June 19 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the matter pertaining to large-scale illegal iron ore mining by the Salgaocar Groups and associates (AVS Group), the central agency said in a statement.

The attached assets include 99 immovable properties located in India (Rs 459.10 crore), 31 immovable properties in Singapore (Rs 471.32 crore) and equity shares in Indian companies (Rs 93.42 crore) held in the names the Estate of Late Anil Salgaocar (through its administrator Lakshmi Anil Salgaocar), Salgaocar Mining Industries, Shantilal Khushaldas & Brothers, S Kantilal & Co., Salitho Ores, Vertex Newton Projects. and Subarnarekha Port, according to the ED. The total value of the assets is Rs 1,023.85 crore.

The money laundering investigation stems from a FIR of the Goa Police CID. The ED said the Supreme Court, through its judgements in 2014 and 2018, has held that all mining undertaken in Goa after 22.11.2007 (till issue of fresh mining leases) was illegal.