The accused, all from Panaji, Goa, for years made Gawas believe that they have utilised the money for buying a piece of land for him.

However, later Gawas found out that the accused persons in connivance with the sub-registrar made sure that the sale agreement of the land did not get registered. The accused also allegedly did some modification in the power of attorney that was created for the smooth purchase of the land, the police complaint said.

Gawas alleged in the FIR that the accused persons allegedly breached his trust and misused his money for unlawful self-gain. Gawas never got possession of the said land.

After pursuing the matter with the accused persons for a long time, he eventually approached the police. Since the said offence was allegedly committed from an office in Bayside mall in Tardeo, Gawas approached the EOW of Mumbai Police.

EOW officials first carried out a preliminary inquiry, and after ascertaining that a cognisable offence is committed, filed an FIR on Thursday. The case was first registered with the Tardeo police station and later got transferred to the EOW, said an officer from the Tardeo police station.

The police have registered a case under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or banker, or merchant or agent), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against Reis Magos Estate Private Limited, and its three directors — Suresh Parulekar, Prasad Parulekar and Manda Suresh Parulekar.

The complainant has submitted details of the money transactions carried out for the purpose of buying land.

EOW officers are in process of identifying witnesses and recording their statement.