India, June 18 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at multiple locations in Maharashtra including the premises of BJP leader and businessman JM Mhatre in connection with its money-laundering investigation into an alleged land fraud in Vahal village under Raigad district. Mhatre is accused of acquiring forest land illegally in 2005 by making duplicate entries in mutation records and subsequently surrendering the land to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in lieu of Rs.42.4 crore as compensation. Another accused allegedly received Rs.9.69 crore in similar fashion.

Mutation records are official documents which record changes in ownership of property.

Mhatre, a former Panvel Municipal Council pres...