A day after his farewell ceremony, former Vasai-Virar Municipal Commissioner (VVMC) Anil Pawar found himself at the centre of an 18-hour Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid that led to the seizure of nearly ₹13 crore in unaccounted cash. The raids, conducted on Tuesday, spanned 12 locations across Mumbai, Thane, and Nashik as part of a money-laundering probe into unauthorised construction of 41 buildings on government and private land.
According to sources, ED officials faced resistance when they arrived at Pawar’s residence, as he and his wife refused to open the door. The couple relented only when the agency sought the help of a key-maker to break open the door.
The raids came just a day after Pawar’s transfer from VVMC, during which he was given a formal farewell in the presence of current and former local MLAs. Investigators allege that, during his tenure, Pawar had accepted bribes from builders at a rate of ₹20-25 per sq. ft. for clearing building files, many of which contained illegalities.
The ED suspects a wider nexus of VVMC officials with builders, architects, and middlemen. “A large number of incriminating digital devices have been seized, revealing large-scale corruption and black money transactions for construction approvals,” said an ED source.
The money-laundering case is linked to the illegal construction of 41 residential and commercial buildings since 2009, including a 60-acre plot earmarked for sewage treatment and waste disposal. While Pawar was not the commissioner during the initial construction, he allegedly failed to act against the unauthorised structures despite complaints. These buildings were later demolished following a Bombay High Court order.
The agency’s investigation also names former Bahujan Vikas Aghadi corporator Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta as key players in the illegal construction racket. In May, the ED had conducted similar searches at 13 locations in Nalasopara, Vasai, Virar, and Hyderabad, seizing ₹8.6 crore in cash and ₹23.2 crore worth of jewellery and bullion from YS Reddy, deputy director of town planning at VVMC.
The ED is currently scrutinising all building approvals granted during Pawar’s tenure and is expected to share its findings with the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau for further action on alleged disproportionate assets.
