Enforcement Directorate Probes ₹2,676 Crore Land Scam as Nexa Evergreen Accused of Misusing Dholera Smart City Name

Two brothers from Rajasthan have been accused of defrauding nearly 70,000 people by collecting around ₹2,676 crore through a land investment scheme linked to the Dholera Smart City name. The accused, Subhash Bijarani and Ranveer Bijarani, are residents of Sikar district. They operated through a company named Nexa Evergreen, registered in Ahmedabad in 2021. The company claimed to be part of the Dholera Smart City project and offered plots and investment plans to the public.

Ranveer Bijarani is said to have purchased land in the Dholera region in 2014. Subhash, who had retired from the Army, used ₹30 lakh from his retirement fund to buy land in the same area. Together, they began promoting the idea that they owned 1,300 bighas of land which would be developed under the smart city initiative. The company used visuals and references similar to official Dholera documents to present their scheme.

They launched investment plans that promised high returns. Investors were told they could get plots and other benefits by contributing money. Nexa Evergreen also followed a referral-based model. People who brought in new investors were given commissions and rewards. These included cash bonuses and material goods like motorcycles, electronic items, and cars, depending on the amount raised through their network.

The brothers recruited several individuals to expand their network. Names like Salim Khan, Sameer, Datar Singh, Rakshapal, Ompal, and Sanwarmal were mentioned as coordinators. These people helped bring in thousands of agents, especially in Rajasthan. A large portion of the collected money—about ₹1,500 crore—was reportedly paid out as commission to these agents.

Using the remaining funds, the brothers bought land and various properties. They purchased 1,300 bighas of land in Gujarat, flats in Ahmedabad, hotels and mines in Rajasthan, and 25 resorts in Goa. Around ₹250 crore was handled in cash, and the rest was moved through 27 companies that are suspected to be shell entities.

Once the fraud came to notice, the company’s offices were shut, and the main accused went missing. The Rajasthan police registered a fraud case in Jodhpur. The Enforcement Directorate is now investigating the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. On June 13, the agency conducted searches at 25 locations in Jaipur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Ahmedabad. Documents, transaction records, and digital storage devices were seized during the operation.

Officials have confirmed that Nexa Evergreen had no connection with the official Dholera Smart City project. The actual Dholera project is a government initiative developed jointly by the Centre and the Gujarat government. It covers 920 square kilometres and is being implemented through Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd. The project includes infrastructure development and an upcoming international airport. It is expected to be completed in phases by 2042.

This case has led to concerns about the use of large public infrastructure projects for private fraud. Authorities are urging people to verify all claims before investing in such schemes. Further legal action is likely, and more individuals involved in the case may face arrest or property seizure based on the investigation's findings.