The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties worth more than Rs 10 crore in connection with two separate alleged land acquisition compensation scams linked to major highway projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
In the larger case involving the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) project, the ED’s Itanagar sub-zonal office attached properties valued at Rs 6.77 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The action pertains to alleged irregularities in the assessment and distribution of compensation for land acquired along the Potin-Bopi stretch of the highway.
Among the properties attached are a residential property with a G+2 RCC building at Yeggo village in West Siang district belonging to late Kemo Lollen, the then Deputy Commissioner of Ziro, attached to the extent of Rs 2.40 crore; Jeyouch Huts Resort at Tigdo village in Papum Pare district in the name of Toko Tath Jotam, son of former junior engineer Toko Taje, valued at Rs 2 crore; and a residential-cum-commercial property at Naharlagun owned by T Babin, valued at Rs 2.37 crore.
The ED investigation originated from an FIR registered by the SIC (Vigilance) Police Station, Itanagar. A fact-finding committee constituted by the Arunachal Pradesh government had earlier found that nearly Rs 44.98 crore in excess compensation was allegedly paid to fictitious and ineligible beneficiaries using manipulated records. Investigators alleged that public servants and private individuals acted in collusion, causing substantial loss to the government exchequer.
According to the agency, further investigation revealed that Rs 2 crore was allegedly paid in cash to late Kemo Lollen for facilitating the fraudulent inclusion of an ineligible beneficiary. Another Rs 40 lakh was allegedly routed through a private firm and later handed over to him through his son. Investigators also traced Rs 2 crore transferred to the account of Toko Youch, wife of Toko Taje, which was subsequently layered through multiple bank accounts.
The ED further alleged that T Babin received approximately Rs 5.47 crore in compensation despite having no lawful entitlement, land or structure in the project area.
Earlier, the agency had frozen bank deposits worth around Rs 5.14 crore, seized Rs 2.62 crore in cash during searches, and attached other properties linked to the case. With the latest action, the total value of proceeds of crime secured in the investigation has reached approximately Rs 16.90 crore. Further investigation is continuing.
In a separate but related development, the ED has also attached three immovable properties worth Rs 3.30 crore in connection with alleged irregularities in land acquisition compensation under the Lada-Sarli Frontier Highway project.
The attached assets include a farmhouse property at Chessa village in Papum Pare district valued at Rs 1.90 crore and held in the name of Senia Yangfo; land at Dariya Hills, Itanagar, valued at Rs 91 lakh and owned by Kongo Pordung; and another property in East Kameng district attached to the extent of Rs 49.25 lakh.
The case stems from an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) FIR alleging large-scale misappropriation of compensation funds sanctioned under Package-IV and Package-V of the Lada-Sarli Frontier Highway project. Of the nearly Rs 109.65 crore sanctioned, investigators found approximately Rs 32.45 crore to be unaccounted for.
ED investigators alleged that beneficiaries Choye Killo and Kongo Pordung received compensation far exceeding their legitimate entitlement. Investigation reportedly established a direct money trail linking compensation payments to the purchase of the attached properties.
The agency noted that shortly after receiving compensation funds, transactions were made to acquire the identified assets. With the latest attachment, the total value of immovable properties attached in the Lada-Sarli compensation scam has risen to nearly Rs 5.99 crore.
The ED said further investigation in both cases is underway.
