Taking major action in the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) land compensation scam, the Itanagar unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has temporarily attached (seized) properties worth about Rs 2.37 crore. This action was taken under PMLA law on 23 March 2026. According to the ED, the attached properties include about 47,350 square meters of land in Dolo village of Kurung Kumey district (in the name of Tadar Babin) and a traditional house (in the name of Likha Maj) located in Yachuli area of Key Panyor district. The investigating agency says that these properties were created by embezzlement of government compensation money.
More money was distributed than the actual compensation
The scam took place during the acquisition of land for the Potin-Boppi stretch of the Trans-Arunachal Highway. The investigation revealed that much more money was distributed than the actual compensation. According to the report of the fact-finding committee, an additional payment of about Rs 44.98 crore was made, causing huge loss to the government exchequer.
Role of many senior officials in investigation
The role of many big officials and private people has come to light in the investigation. This includes names like the then Deputy Commissioner Kemo Lollen, District Land Revenue Officer Bharat Lingu, Junior Engineer Toko Taje and Kabak Bhatt. The allegation is that they together created fake documents, inflated the amount of compensation and released money in the names of wrong people. At the same time, Likha Maaz and Tadar Babin have also been said to have received compensation fraudulently. ED says that these people withdrew the money and rotated it at different places, so that the black money could be clearly shown.
ED had raided many places in February
ED had earlier raided many places on 6 February 2026. During this period, Rs 2.40 crore cash was recovered from Likha Maaz and Rs 22 lakh was recovered from Tadar Babin. Apart from this, about Rs 1.19 crore were frozen in bank accounts. Till now, in this case, ED has attached, seized or frozen illegal assets worth a total of Rs 10.13 crore. ED had earlier filed a charge sheet in this case in 2024, of which the court has taken cognizance. Now the role of more people is coming to light in the new investigation. The agency says that there may be more revelations in this matter in future also.
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