ED Arrests Prime Accused in Dehradun Land Fraud; Special PMLA Court Grants 5-Day Custodial Remand
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Dehradun, September 7, 2026: In a momentous development in its probe into an alleged large-scale land fraud in Dehradun, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Naveen Kumar Mittal, alleged to be the prime accused and principal beneficiary of the fraudulent transactions.
Mittal was arrested on September 3, 2026, under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and was subsequently produced before the Special Court (PMLA), Dehradun, which has remanded him to five days of ED custody.
Probe Traces Alleged Fraud to Forged Land Records
The ED investigation stalks from multiple FIRs registered by the Uttarakhand Police concerning the alleged fabrication of land records, forged title documents and fraudulent sale of land in Dehradun.
According to the ED, charge sheets have already been filed by the police in two of these cases, naming Mittal as the prime accused and principal beneficiary of the alleged fraud.
The agency has further stated that it has already filed a Prosecution Complaint before the Special Court (PMLA), Dehradun, against Humayun Parvez, Mohd. Vakil and Mukesh Kumar Gupta in connection with the case.
₹3.24 Crore Alleged Proceeds of Crime Under Scanner
The ED’s investigation allegedly revealed that Mittal projected his co-accused as the lawful owner of the disputed land on the strength of forged and fabricated documents, following which the property was sold to unsuspecting purchasers.
The agency has alleged that sale consideration amounting to approximately ₹3.24 crore, constituting Proceeds of Crime, was deposited into a bank account opened in the name of a co-accused and subsequently transferred to entities allegedly controlled by Mittal.
Significantly, the ED has stated that forensic examination of the original bank records by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) established that the account was, in fact, operated by Mittal himself.
ED Alleges Non-Cooperation and Witness Influence
The agency has further alleged that despite repeated summonses, Mittal failed to join the investigation. It has also accused him of influencing witnesses, preventing relatives from appearing before the agency and attempting to give a veneer of legitimacy to allegedly tainted transactions by creating fresh documents.
Searches conducted by the ED at premises linked to Mittal in August 2026 reportedly resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices.
The agency has also stated that Mittal’s alleged involvement in other land fraud cases has surfaced during the investigation and is being examined separately.
Land Fraud Under PMLA Lens
The case brings under renewed scrutiny the growing menace of land fraud involving fabricated revenue records and forged title documents, which, according to the ED, has emerged as a pervasive economic offence in Uttarakhand, causing substantial financial losses to citizens and undermining confidence in the land-registration system.
The arrest of the alleged prime accused marks a significant step in the agency’s money-laundering investigation.
The ED has reiterated that proceeds generated through fraudulent land transactions would be traced, attached and subjected to confiscation proceedings in accordance with the PMLA.
Further investigation is underway.
