'Not A Rupee Taken, Not Involved In Nexus’: Ex-VVCMC Chief Anil Pawar Defends Self Before ED

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned former Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) Commissioner Anil Pawar and his wife Bharti Pawar for over ten hours in connection with an ongoing money laundering probe related to alleged illegal constructions on public land.

Probe Linked to Illegal Constructions on Reserved Public Land

The case pertains to unauthorised developments on land parcels reserved for sewage treatment plants and dumping grounds in the Vasai-Virar region. The probe, being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has expanded to include suspected laundering of bribe money through shell companies and real estate transactions, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Pawar Distances Himself From Irregularities, Blames Former DDTP Y.S. Reddy

According to sources, Anil Pawar, during his deposition, distanced himself from the alleged irregularities, stating that the present case stemmed from a 2016 FIR filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Thane, against then Deputy Director of Town Planning (DDTP) Y.S. Reddy. The FIR, based on a complaint by Shiv Sena corporator Dhananjay Gawade, alleged that Reddy offered him a bribe of Rs 25 lakh as part of a Rs 1 crore deal to suppress RTI queries and legal complaints exposing a nexus between VVCMC officials and the construction lobby.

Pawar is reported to have told ED officials that the nexus between civic officials and private players was primarily responsible for large-scale unauthorised construction on both government and private land across the Vasai-Virar region. He further stated that he assumed charge as VVCMC Commissioner in 2022, well after the disputed buildings were allegedly constructed between 2008–09 and 2011–12.

He further claimed that then Deputy Director of Town Planning Y. S. Reddy was responsible for issuing bogus commencement certificates by misusing Building Permit (BP) numbers, even though many of the plots were reserved for public amenities. While official permissions were denied, construction reportedly went ahead with initial approvals for ground-plus-one structures, which were later extended illegally by manipulating permissions.

Pawar alleged that Reddy deliberately overlooked these violations and was complicit in the irregularities, sources said.

Denies Allegations of Accepting Rs 20–25 Per Sq Ft Bribe

During his deposition, Pawar firmly rebutted allegations of being part of an organised cartel within the civic body. He denied colluding with civic engineers, town planners, architects, chartered accountants and liaison agents to approve unauthorised buildings in return for bribes. He specifically denied allegations that he received Rs 20–25 per sq ft as Commissioner, for clearing such projects.

In what sources described as a “strong and unequivocal denial,” Pawar told the ED that he had never received a single rupee, whether in cash, cheque, or any other form, from Reddy or any liaisoner or civic official. To reinforce his claim, he pointed to the ED’s search operations at his premises. According to him, the searches yielded no objectionable cash, unaccounted assets.

Says He Ordered Demolition of 41 Illegal Structures During Tenure

Claiming to have taken action against encroachments, Pawar told the ED that during his tenure he ordered the demolition of 41 illegal structures identified in a court-monitored list. The razed buildings, spread across over 1.21 crore sq ft, were taken down without any major law and order issues, he said. He alleged that criticism from certain political quarters and media sections began after the demolition drive impacted vested interests.

According to Pawar, the backlash stemmed from the scale of the operation, which disrupted vested interests. “Due to the demolition of these structures and the exposure of large-scale illegal construction, some politicians and media outlets began targeting me,” he is learnt to have said during his deposition.

According to sources, the Pawar couple, after being questioned for over 10 hours on Monday, requested a three-day exemption from the ED, citing the first death anniversary rituals of Anil Pawar’s mother. They also asked for additional time to collect and submit financial documents sought by the agency. The couple resumed their appearance before the ED on Friday to continue their deposition.

Documents of Benami Properties in Pune, Nashik Seized by ED

However, officials said that during the search operations, the agency recovered documents related to benami properties in Pune and Nashik, registered in the name of Bharti Pawar and other relatives. These assets are under scrutiny, and the agency is likely to continue questioning both Anil and Bharti Pawar about them on Friday.

According to sources, the agency has also questioned the couple about a series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) recovered during the searches. These documents indicate that Bharti Pawar was in the process of acquiring commercial warehouses, with some of the transactions reportedly pending finalisation.

Also Watch:

ED Probes Shell Companies Linked to Bharti Pawar, Relatives

Investigators have also identified multiple shell companies allegedly linked to Bharti Pawar, her relatives, and benamidars. These firms, suspected to be involved in construction-related activities such as residential redevelopment and warehouse projects, are believed to have been used to route bribe money. ED officials believe these entities were floated by Anil Pawar in the names of family members and associates during his tenure as VVCMC Commissioner.