ED Arrests Naveen Kumar Mittal in Dehradun Land Fraud Case, Court Grants 5-Day Custody
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Naveen Kumar Mittal in connection with a large-scale land fraud case in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He was arrested on September 3, 2026, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and has been remanded to five days of ED custody by the Special Court in Dehradun.
The investigation began after Uttarakhand Police registered multiple FIRs alleging the fabrication of land records and the fraudulent sale of properties in Dehradun. According to the ED, charge sheets filed in two of these cases identify Mittal as the prime accused and the principal beneficiary of the alleged fraud. The agency has also filed a prosecution complaint against Humayun Parvez, Mohd. Vakil and Mukesh Kumar Gupta before the Special Court under the PMLA in Dehradun.
According to the ED investigation, Mittal allegedly used forged documents to portray his co-accused as the legitimate owners of land and subsequently sold the properties to unsuspecting buyers. The agency estimates that approximately ₹3.24 crore generated through these transactions constitutes proceeds of crime.
Investigators found that the sale proceeds were deposited into a bank account opened in the name of a co-accused before being transferred to entities allegedly controlled by Mittal. A forensic examination of the original bank records by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) reportedly established that Mittal himself was operating the account.
The ED has further alleged that Mittal repeatedly failed to appear despite being summoned for questioning, influenced witnesses and prevented some of his relatives from giving statements to the agency. He is also accused of creating fresh documents to make the suspected fraudulent transactions appear legitimate.
Searches conducted at his premises in August 2026 led to the seizure of documents and digital devices that could provide further evidence in the case. The agency has also found indications of his alleged involvement in other land fraud cases, which are currently under investigation.
Land fraud involving forged ownership documents and manipulated revenue records has become a serious concern in Uttarakhand, often leaving unsuspecting buyers facing significant financial losses. Such cases also raise questions about the reliability of land records and property transactions.
The ED has stated that the arrest is part of its efforts to identify and trace money generated through alleged land frauds. The agency is continuing its investigation to uncover the wider network, trace the suspected proceeds of crime and identify assets that may be liable for attachment and confiscation under the PMLA.
News Source : Directorate of Enforcement (ED) – Official Press Release, Government of India
