The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties worth ₹152.5 crore in connection with two major money laundering cases in Gujarat, involving a bizarre fake government office racket in Dahod and a massive real estate fraud in Ahmedabad.
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached assets worth ₹152.5 crore across two separate money-laundering probes in Gujarat.
- In Dahod, fraudsters established six fake government offices of the Irrigation Department to siphon off public grants.
- In Ahmedabad, a real estate syndicate duped over 250 homebuyers with fake projects and false promises of up to 100% returns.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday (August 17, 2026) provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth ₹152.5 crore in connection with two separate money-laundering investigations in Gujarat. The cases highlight two highly sophisticated operations: a bizarre fake government office racket in Dahod district and a multi-crore real estate housing fraud in Ahmedabad.
According to the Ahmedabad zonal office of the probe agency, assets worth ₹22.7 crore were attached in connection with the fake government offices scam busted in Dahod in 2023. Meanwhile, immovable properties worth ₹129.80 crore were attached in a separate case related to a massive real estate fraud that targeted middle-class homebuyers in Ahmedabad.
The Dahod Fake Government Office Racket
The Dahod scam represents an unprecedented level of audacity in financial crime. The ED probe revealed that the primary accused, Abubakar Jakirali Saiyad, along with his family members and associates, set up six fake government offices under the guise of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department in Dahod district. Using these bogus offices, they fraudulently secured government grants worth crores of rupees under the pretext of implementing "irrigation-related projects."
Among those arrested in connection with the scam was B.D. Ninama, a former IAS officer. The accused allegedly impersonated government officials, forged official seals and signatures, and prepared fake documents to secure approvals for 121 fake works. The siphoned public funds were routed through a complex network of bank accounts and eventually used to purchase land parcels, make mutual fund investments, and acquire other personal assets.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that these cases expose critical structural vulnerabilities in both public administration and real estate regulatory frameworks in India. While the Dahod case reveals severe loopholes in the verification and auditing of government grants, the Ahmedabad real estate scam highlights how easily fraudulent developers can bypass mandatory RERA regulations to exploit retail investors.
"The level of sophistication required to establish entirely non-existent government departments to siphon public funds points to systemic failures in state-level treasury and audit mechanisms," noted a senior financial crime analyst.
The Ahmedabad Real Estate Housing Fraud
In the second case, the ED initiated a money-laundering probe based on five FIRs registered at the Navrangpura and Bopal police stations in Ahmedabad against Ronak Sonani, Vipul Gangani, and others. The accused targeted ordinary homebuyers, small traders, and middle-class families by projecting their real estate schemes as genuine, highly lucrative projects.
The fraudsters offered flats and shops at attractive pre-launch prices, promising assured returns ranging from 54% to 100%. However, these projects were marketed without the mandatory RERA approvals or Non-Agricultural (N.A.) permissions. The promised properties were never delivered, and the buyers' money was systematically diverted. In the Chharodi project alone, the accused duped 250 buyers and later transferred the project's land to third parties using dummy sale deeds with fictitious payment details to make the transactions appear legitimate.
Historical Background
While India has witnessed numerous real estate scams over the decades, the creation of entirely fake government offices to siphon off state funds is exceedingly rare. This modus operandi mirrors some of the complex white-collar crimes of the late 20th century but with a modern, digital-era twist. The involvement of a former IAS officer in the Dahod case further underscores the historical challenge of tackling insider collusion in administrative corruption.
| Parameter | Dahod Fake Office Scam | Ahmedabad Housing Fraud |
|---|---|---|
| Attached Asset Value | ₹22.7 Crore | ₹129.8 Crore |
| Key Accused | Abubakar Jakirali Saiyad, B.D. Ninama (ex-IAS) | Ronak Sonani, Vipul Gangani |
| Modus Operandi | Created 6 fake govt offices; forged 121 project approvals | Sold unapproved pre-launch flats; used dummy sale deeds |
| Victims | State Treasury & Public Taxpayer Funds | 250+ middle-class homebuyers & retail investors |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What was the role of the former IAS officer in the Dahod scam?
Answer: Former IAS officer B.D. Ninama allegedly colluded with the main conspirators, using his administrative influence to help clear fake project files and facilitate the release of government grants to the bogus offices.
Q2: How did the Ahmedabad real estate fraudsters deceive home buyers?
Answer: The accused offered unregistered properties at heavily discounted pre-launch rates with unrealistic return promises. They bypassed RERA regulations and eventually sold the project land to third parties using dummy deeds without refunding the buyers.
