Mumbai: Following extensive search operation at the residence of former Vasai-Virar City Municipal Commissioner (VVCMC) Anil Kumar Pawar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Pawar has been asked to appear before the agency later this week for questioning in connection with the ongoing probe into the illegal construction of 41 buildings on 60 acres of government and private land reserved for public utilities.
12 Locations Raided; ₹1.33 Crore Cash Seized
According to sources, six other individuals, including Pawar’s close associates and family members, have also been issued summons for questioning. Senior ED officials confirmed that Tuesday’s coordinated searches were conducted at 12 locations, including Pawar’s Vasai residence and premises in Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik, linked to his relatives, associates, and alleged benamidars (in whose names he held properties).The operation resulted in the seizure of Rs 1.33 crore in cash and several incriminating documents.
Benami Property Documents, Digital Devices Seized
Officials familiar with the probe stated that Rs 1.33 crore in cash was seized from Pawar’s nephew in Nashik. During the search at Pawar’s residence, ED officials also seized digital devices as well as several documents suspected to be linked to benami assets, currently under scrutiny.
Pawar has recently been transferred as the Chief Executive Officer of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Slum Rehabilitation Authority (MMR-SRA). The ED is also examining financial transactions and property acquisitions linked to Pawar during his tenure at the VVCMC.
Bribery Rate Per Sq Ft Allegedly Fixed at VVCMC
ED investigations have also uncovered a structured bribery mechanism within the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation, where rates were allegedly fixed per square foot for granting illegal building approvals. According to officials, senior-most officers reportedly received bribes of up to Rs 25 to Rs 30 per sq ft, while junior-level staff were paid Rs 10 per sq ft for facilitating unauthorized constructions.
Pawar Delayed Entry During ED Raid, Locksmith Called
When the ED team reached Pawar’s Din Dayal Nagar residence in Vasai in the early hours of Tuesday, he reportedly refused to open the door for over 40 minutes. Sources close to the search operation, which continued for more than 18 hours, told The Free Press Journal that Pawar was aware that a Central agency team was at his doorstep, and yet he deliberately delayed their entry, raising suspicion of possible tampering or destruction of evidence. Officials were forced to call a locksmith in the presence of local police to gain forceful entry into Pawar's official residence.
Middlemen, Civic Staff Also Under ED Scanner
The ED also conducted searches at the premises of a contractual employee associated with VVCMC, who was allegedly suspected of acting as a middleman between civic officials and builders. Additionally, he allegedly functioned as a bridge between the town planning department, architects, other intermediaries, and approval authorities.
ED’s investigation has also revealed that, on several occasions, the concerned department granted approvals for illegal constructions by bypassing established regulations. The possibility of large sums of money being exchanged in the process cannot be ruled out. The agency is probing the extent and nature of the employee’s involvement in these irregularity.
ED Probing 41 Illegal Buildings on Reserved Land
The crackdown is part of a wider money laundering investigation into the illegal construction of 41 buildings spread over 60 acres of government and private land originally reserved for public amenities. According to investigators, the alleged scam violated urban planning regulations and was enabled through a systematic bribery mechanism within the municipal administration, wherein fixed rates per square foot were purportedly charged for unauthorised construction approvals.
