Latest news with #VVMC
Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Indian Express
Vasai-Virar land scam: Five days after searches, ED questions IAS officer, wife for more than 8-hours
Five days after conducting searches at 12 locations linked to former Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) commissioner Anil Pawar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned him and his wife for over eight hours in connection with the money laundering probe into unauthorised construction on civic land. Pawar, an IAS-promoted officer recently transferred as the CEO of the Mumbai Metropolitan Slum Rehabilitation Authority, appeared at the ED's Worli office on Monday after being summoned last week. The agency also summoned six of his relatives and associates. Pawar's and his wife's statement were recorded by the ED sleuths. Agency sources said Pawar was questioned about clearances given to 41 illegal buildings constructed on 60 acres of land earmarked for sewage treatment and dumping grounds, as per Vasai-Virar's development plan as well as the financial irregularities linked to these projects. The ED had raided Pawar's residence last Tuesday, a day after his official farewell as VVMC chief. During the search, his wife allegedly locked herself inside, forcing officials to seek help from the local police and a key maker. Sources claimed this delay allowed Pawar to delete incriminating chats from his phone. Incriminating documents and Rs 1.3 crore in cash were seized from a relative's residence in Nashik during the raids. Previously, the agency had searched premises of VVMC officials, builders, liaison officers, architects, and middlemen who allegedly routed bribes to civic officials to regularise illegal constructions. In May, the agency raided 13 locations in Nalasopara, Vasai, Virar and Hyderabad as well. It seized approximately Rs 8.6 crore in cash and Rs 23.25 crore worth of diamond-studded jewellery and bullion from the house of Y S Reddy, deputy director of town planning, VVMC. The central agency's money laundering investigation is based on multiple FIRs registered by the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police commissionerate against builders, local henchmen, and others for 'illegal construction of residential/commercial buildings on government and private land' in VVMC limits since 2009. According to the agency, 41 illegal buildings were constructed on land reserved for 'sewage treatment plant' and 'dumping ground' as per the approved development plan of Vasai-Virar city. The 41 buildings were demolished on February 20 this year following the Bombay High Court's order, which the Supreme Court upheld later. The action, however, left the residents of these buildings homeless.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Indian Express
Vasai-Virar land scam: Day after searches, ED summons IAS officer for questioning
A day after searching 12 premises in Mumbai, Vasai-Virar and Nashik, the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday sent summons to former Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) commissioner Anil Pawar, asking him to join the investigation in connection with a money laundering probe into the unauthorised construction of 41 buildings on 60 acres of civic land reserved for sewage treatment and as dumping grounds. Sources in the agency confirmed the development and said that six other relatives and associates of Pawar have also been summoned and asked to join the probe. Agency sources further hinted that the questioning of Pawar, a promotee IAS officer, would revolve around the clearance given to various construction projects during his tenure as the chief of Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation and financial irregularities linked to these projects. Pawar was recently transferred to the Mumbai Metropolitan Slum Rehabilitation Authority as CEO. On Monday, he handed over his charge as municipal commissioner. ED on Tuesday searched 12 places linked to Pawar and his relatives and seized incriminating documents and nearly Rs 1.3 crore cash from his relative's place in Nashik. On Tuesday, the Deendayal Road area in Vasai witnessed high drama when the agency personnel visited the bungalow where Pawar and his family live. Sources in the central agency said that when ED officials visited Pawar's residence, his family members closed the door from inside and did not open it for nearly 45-minutes. Left with no other choice, ED officials called in local police which then roped in a key maker, who opened the door making way for the ED team to raid the premises. ED officials suspect that by indulging in such an act, the family bought time and there is a high possibility that the suspect bureaucrat may have deleted some conversations with his associates. ED is probing into it. In fact, ED searched Pawar's residence a day after he was accorded a farewell. This was the third round of searches conducted by the central agency in the VVMC region in connection with the illegal construction scam case. In the previous two rounds , the agency searched the premises of VVMC officials, builders and their associates and also covered the premises of liaison officers, architects, and middlemen who allegedly coordinated between builders and VVMC officials. Builders routed the bribe paid to VVMC officials through middlemen to regularise illegal constructions, agency sources said. In May, the agency raided 13 locations in Nalasopara, Vasai, Virar and Hyderabad as well. It seized approximately Rs 8.6 crore in cash and Rs 23.25 crore worth of diamond-studded jewellery and bullion from the house of Y S Reddy, deputy director of town planning, VVMC. During investigations, ED found that the accused civic officials, middlemen and the developers, were indulging in illegal acts in a very organized manner and they had even set a price for the same. Sources said the accused civic officials used to charge Rs 20-35 per square feet to developers to clear the illegal projects of the developers. The central agency's money laundering investigation is based on multiple FIRs registered by the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police commissionerate against builders, local henchmen, and others for 'illegal construction of residential/commercial buildings on government and private land' in VVMC limits since 2009. ED suspects a large-scale scam involving illegal construction in the Vasai-Virar area and said the key perpetrators have been identified as Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta, among others. Further investigation is on. According to the agency, 41 illegal buildings were constructed on land reserved for 'sewage treatment plant' and 'dumping ground' as per the approved development plan of Vasai-Virar city. The 41 buildings were demolished on February 20 this year following the Bombay High Court's order, which the Supreme Court upheld later. The action, however, left the residents of these buildings homeless.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Time of India
Money laundering probe into 41 illegal buildings: ED raids 12 premises in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik linked to former Vasai-Virar municipal commissioner, seize Rs 1.3cr from kin
Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday raided 12 premises in Mumbai, Thane, and Nashik linked to former Vasai-Virar municipal commissioner Anil Pawar in connection with a money laundering probe into the unauthorised construction of 41 buildings on govt and pvt land, and claim to have seized nearly Rs 1.3 crore in unaccounted cash from the premises of one of his relatives. When ED officials reached Pawar's residence, he and his wife refused to open the door. It was only when the team began to break open the door with the assistance of a key-maker, that the couple opened the door, said sources. The ED action came a day after Pawar handed over the charge following his transfer and was accorded a farewell at the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) headquarters, where present and former local MLAs were present. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai ED conducted the raids on Pawar after discovering evidence, including electronic messages and statements during similar searches conducted in May, indicating that as VVMC he had allegedly collected bribes from several builders at a rate of Rs 20-25 per sq ft for approving their building files, many of which involved illegalities. ED is currently examining all projects approved during his tenure. It will share its findings with the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau for further action against Pawar for possessing disproportionate assets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Tambun Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo The money laundering case relates to the illegal construction of 41 residential and commercial buildings on govt and private land under VVMC's jurisdiction since 2009. It included a 60-acre land that was designated for sewage treatment and dumping facilities. Although Pawar was not VVMC chief at the time of the construction, he failed to act against them after he took charge, despite complaints. The 41 buildings were recently demolished following a Bombay high court order. ED's probe identified former BVA corporator Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta as the alleged principal offenders in the illegal construction racket, which also involved collaboration with VVMC officials. In May, ED had raided 13 locations in Nalasopara, Vasai, Virar, and Hyderabad and had allegedly seized Rs 8.6 crore in unaccounted cash and Rs 23.2 crore worth of jewellery and bullion from the Hyderabad residence of Y S Reddy, deputy director of town planning, VVMC. ED had then stated "a large number of incriminating digital devices have been seized, which reveal the involvement of VVMC officials in the perpetration of this large-scale illegal construction scam. The digital devices also revealed the close nexus of VVCMC officials/officers with the architects/CAs/liasoners and the extent of large-scale corruption and black money flowing in the VVMC to get the approval for the construction of buildings". Former Shiv Sena corporator from Nalasopara, who is now heading Vasai Virar for Swarajya Abhiyan, said, "The case of 41 illegal buildings actually helped the agencies understand that this was only the tip of an iceberg and the scope of corruption in the VVMC is massive. So, they raided the town planning officials and architects and now the former commissioner himself..."
Indian Express
29-07-2025
- Indian Express
Vasai-Virar land scam: ED searches 12 places, including residence of ex-civic commissioner Anil Pawar, a day after his transfer
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Tuesday initiated searches at 12 places, including the residence and official premises of former Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) commissioner Anil Pawar, in connection with a money laundering probe into the unauthorised construction of 41 buildings on 60 acres of civic land reserved for sewage treatment and as dumping grounds. The agency's action came a day after Pawar, whose transfer order was issued around a week ago, handed over the charge on Monday and was accorded a farewell. ED sources said multiple places in Vasai Virar, Mumbai, and Nashik are being searched. This is the third round of searches conducted by the central agency in the VVMC region in nearly two months in connection with a money laundering probe into the illegal building construction case. Officers suspect that a well-organised syndicate is operating behind it. In the first round, the agency searched the premises of VVMC officials, builders and their associates. In the second round, which also covered some premises in Juhu (belonging to a known architect) and Kandivali areas of Mumbai, officers focused on the premises of liaison officers, architects, and middlemen who allegedly coordinated between builders and VVMC officials. Builders routed the bribe paid to VVMC officials through middlemen to regularise illegal constructions, agency sources said. Incriminating documents seized during the last two raids indicated gross forgery and fabrication of documents to bypass rules and regularise unauthorised projects. Certain architects and liaisoning officials are suspected to have played an important role, another ED source said. In May, the agency raided 13 locations in Nalasopara, Vasai, Virar and Hyderabad as well. It seized approximately Rs 8.6 crore in cash and Rs 23.25 crore worth of diamond-studded jewellery and bullion from the house of Y S Reddy, deputy director of town planning, VVMC. Large-scale scam suspected The central agency's money laundering investigation is based on multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police commissionerate against builders, local henchmen, and others for 'illegal construction of residential/commercial buildings on government and private land' in VVMC limits since 2009. ED suspects a large-scale scam involving illegal construction in the Vasai-Virar area and said the key perpetrators have been identified as Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta, among others. Further investigation is on. According to the agency, 41 illegal buildings were constructed on land reserved for 'sewage treatment plant' and 'dumping ground' as per the approved development plan of Vasai-Virar city. 'The accused builders deceived the public at large by constructing illegal buildings on such land and subsequently developers sell flats to people by fabricating approval documents,' the ED said. 'Even with prior knowledge that these buildings were unauthorised and would eventually be demolished, the developers misled the people by selling rooms in these buildings, thereby committing serious fraud.' The 41 buildings were demolished on February 20 this year following the Bombay High Court's order, which the Supreme Court upheld later. The action, however, left the residents of these buildings homeless.
Hindustan Times
29-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
ED raids former Vasai Virar Municipal Commissioner's premises in PMLA case
Mumbai, The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple premises linked to former Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation Commissioner Anil Pawar as part of a money laundering investigation linked to "large-scale" illegal construction under its jurisdiction. ED raids former Vasai Virar Municipal Commissioner's premises in PMLA case Official sources said a dozen premises of Pawar, his family members, associates and alleged benamidars in Virar, Mumbai and Nashik were searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act . Pawar has recently been transferred out from VVCMC. According to reports, Pawar was given an official farewell on Monday. The money laundering case stems from an FIR registered by the Mira Bhayandar Police Commissionerate against some builders, local henchmen and others. The case, according to an ED statement issued earlier, pertains to "illegal" construction of residential-cum-commercial buildings on government and private land under the jurisdiction of VVMC since 2009. Over a period of time, 41 illegal buildings were constructed on the land reserved for 'sewage treatment plant' and 'dumping ground' as per the approved development plan of Vasai Virar City, it had said. "The accused builders and developers deceived the public at large by constructing illegal buildings on such land and subsequently sold it to the general public by fabricating approval documents," it said. "Even with prior knowledge that these buildings were unauthorised and would eventually be demolished, the developers misled the people by selling rooms in these buildings thereby committing serious fraud," the ED alleged. The Bombay High Court issued an order in July 2024 ordering the demolition of all the 41 buildings. The residents of these residential units subsequently filed a special leave petition before the Supreme Court but this was dismissed and VVMC demolished these structures on February 20. Probe found, the ED said, that a "large cartel of architects, CAs, liasoners and VVCMC officials/officers are operating in collusion with each other." "This cartel is responsible for large-scale illegal construction in the jurisdiction of VVCMC," it said. The searches led to the recovery of "incriminating" digital devices which show the "involvement" of VVCMC officials in perpetrating this illegal construction scam, it said. The digital devices also show the "close" nexus of VVCMC officials/officers with the architects, CA's and liasoners and the extent of "large-scale" corruption and black money flowing in the VVCMC to get the approval for construction of buildings, the ED said. The first round of searches in this case were conducted by the ED in May. Following the second round of raids in July, the agency froze bank deposits and mutual funds of ₹12.71 crore and seized cash of ₹26 lakh apart from some "incriminating" documents and devices. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
