Dehradun, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended a key figure behind a significant land fraud scheme in Dehradun. The agency secured a five-day custody order from a special court to investigate approximately ₹3.24 crore in illicit earnings linked to the case, an official confirmed on Monday.
Naveen Kumar Mittal was arrested on September 3 under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). Following his arrest, he was presented before a special court in Dehradun, which granted the ED permission for further questioning.
The investigation was initiated after the Uttarakhand police filed multiple FIRs regarding tampering with land records and fraudulent sales in Dehradun. According to the statement, the police have already filed charges in two of these FIRs, identifying Mittal as the main accused and the primary beneficiary of the fraud.
The ED has previously filed a prosecution complaint against Humayun Parvez, Mo. Waqeel, and Mukesh Kumar Gupta in the same court. Investigators revealed that Mittal used forged documents to misrepresent the true owner of the land to his co-accused and sold it to unsuspecting buyers.
Funds from these sales, including the ₹3.24 crore in illicit profits, were deposited into a bank account opened in the name of a co-accused and later transferred to companies controlled by Mittal. A forensic examination by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory confirmed that Mittal was the actual operator of this account.
Despite receiving multiple summons, Mittal failed to cooperate with the investigation. He allegedly influenced witnesses and attempted to prevent relatives from testifying. He also tried to fabricate new documents to legitimize the fraudulent transactions.
In August, the ED conducted raids on his properties, seizing incriminating documents and digital devices. The agency noted that Mittal’s involvement has emerged in other land fraud cases, which are still under investigation.
Land fraud through fake revenue records and forged ownership documents has become one of the most common economic crimes in Uttarakhand. This has resulted in significant financial losses for individuals and eroded public trust in the land registration system.
The ED’s statement emphasized that Mittal’s arrest sends a clear message that those profiting from such fraud will face consequences. Additionally, the agency intends to identify and seize properties acquired through unlawful means under the PMLA, 2002.
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