The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties worth Rs. 6.77 crore in the Trans-Arunachal Highway compensation scam under PMLA, taking the total proceeds of crime secured to Rs. 16.90 crore. The investigation involves alleged fraudulent compensation payments and manipulated records.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs. 6.77 crore in connection with the alleged Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) land acquisition compensation scam, taking the total value of proceeds of crime secured in the case to approximately Rs. 16.90 crore.
According to an official statement issued by the central investigation agency, the ED’s Itanagar Sub-Zonal Office attached the properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The latest action was taken during further investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving compensation payments under the Trans-Arunachal Highway project.
The attached properties include a residential property at Yeggo village in Aalo, West Siang district, valued at Rs. 2.40 crore and held in the name of late Kemo Lollen, the then Deputy Commissioner of Ziro.
Another property, JEYOUCH HUTS Resort, located at Tigdo village in Doimukh, Papum Pare district, and held in the name of Toko That Jotam, has been attached to the extent of Rs. 2 crore. The third property is a residential-cum-commercial property in A-Sector, Naharlagun, Papum Pare district, valued at Rs. 2.37 crore and registered in the name of Tadar Babin.
The ED initiated its investigation based on an FIR registered by the Special Investigation Cell (Vigilance) Police Station in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, concerning alleged large-scale irregularities in the assessment and disbursement of land acquisition compensation for the Potin-Bopi stretch of the Trans-Arunachal Highway project.
A fact-finding committee constituted by the Arunachal Pradesh government reportedly identified excess compensation payments amounting to approximately Rs. 44.98 crore. According to the committee’s findings, the payments were allegedly made to fictitious and ineligible beneficiaries through manipulated records, involving public servants and private individuals and causing financial losses to the government exchequer.
During the investigation, the ED identified alleged financial transactions involving several individuals connected with the compensation process. The agency stated that late Kemo Lollen, who served as Deputy Commissioner of Ziro, oversaw the disbursement of compensation. Toko Taje, the then Junior Engineer of the Yazali Division, was involved in structural assessments related to compensation claims. A property held in his son’s name has been attached as part of the investigation. Tadar Babin was allegedly included as a beneficiary despite having no lawful entitlement to compensation.
Further scrutiny of bank accounts, documentary records and statements recorded under the PMLA reportedly revealed additional proceeds of crime that were not covered under earlier attachment proceedings.
According to the ED, its investigation revealed that Rs. 2 crore was allegedly paid in cash to late Kemo Lollen in exchange for the fraudulent inclusion of an ineligible individual as a beneficiary in compensation records. Investigators also found that Rs. 40 lakh was routed through M/s Tenzin Enterprises and subsequently handed over to Lollen through his son.
The agency further alleged that Rs. 2 crore was transferred to the bank account of Toko Youch, wife of Toko Taje, and subsequently utilised and layered through multiple accounts.
In another major finding, the ED stated that Tadar Babin had allegedly received compensation of approximately Rs. 5.47 crore despite having no land, structure or other assets in the project area that would establish his eligibility for compensation.
Earlier, the agency had frozen bank balances and deposits worth approximately Rs. 5.14 crore. During searches conducted on February 6, 2026, officials seized Rs. 2.62 crore in cash, including Rs. 2.40 crore from Likha Maj and Rs. 22 lakh from Tadar Babin.
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Additionally, immovable properties belonging to Tadar Babin and Likha Maj, valued at approximately Rs. 2.37 crore, were attached through a Provisional Attachment Order dated March 23, 2026.
With the latest attachment of Rs. 6.77 crore, the total proceeds of crime secured in the case have reached approximately Rs. 16.90 crore.
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The ED had earlier filed a charge sheet on March 12, 2024, which was taken cognisance of by the Special PMLA Court, Yupia, on March 14, 2024. A supplementary charge sheet was subsequently filed on March 30, 2024.
The central agency said further investigation into the alleged money laundering and financial irregularities in the Trans-Arunachal Highway land acquisition compensation scam is continuing.
