Dehradun, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Naveen Kumar Mittal, alleged mastermind of a large-scale land fraud in Dehradun, in a money laundering case involving proceeds of crime of about Rs 3.24 crore.
Mittal was arrested by the ED’s Dehradun office on September 3 under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. He was subsequently produced before the Special Court (PMLA) in Dehradun, which granted the agency five days of custody for questioning.
The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by the Uttarakhand Police over the fabrication of land records and fraudulent sale of land in Dehradun. Police have filed charge sheets in two of these cases, naming Mittal as the prime accused and principal beneficiary of the alleged fraud.
The ED 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.
According to the ED, its investigation found that Mittal projected co-accused persons as rightful owners of land using forged documents and subsequently sold the properties to unsuspecting buyers.
The agency said the sale consideration included proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 3.24 crore. The money was initially credited to a bank account opened in the name of a co-accused and was subsequently transferred to entities controlled by Mittal.
Forensic examination of the original bank records by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), New Delhi, established that the account was actually operated by Mittal, the ED said.
The agency alleged that Mittal repeatedly failed to join the investigation despite summonses, influenced witnesses and prevented his relatives from appearing before investigators. It also alleged that he attempted to present the tainted transactions as genuine by creating fresh forged documents.
ED searches at his premises in August led to the seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices. The agency said Mittal’s involvement in other land fraud cases has also emerged and is being investigated.
The ED said land fraud involving fabricated revenue records and forged title documents has become a serious economic offence in Uttarakhand, causing financial losses to citizens and undermining trust in the land registration system.
It said the arrest sends a message that those generating or laundering proceeds from such frauds will face action, while assets linked to the alleged proceeds of crime will be traced, attached and confiscated under the PMLA.
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