The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai has attached immovable properties worth Rs 71 crore belonging to IAS officer and former Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) Commissioner Anil Pawar, Sitaram Gupta and others under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED had initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Mira Bhayandar Police Commissionerate against builders, local henchmen and others. The case pertains to ‘illegal construction of residential cum commercial buildings on government and private land’ under jurisdiction of ‘Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC)’ since 2009. ED found 41 illegal buildings that were eventually demolished following court orders. ED investigation revealed that an organized cartel of VVCMC officers namely the Commissioner, Deputy Director Town Planner, Junior Engineers, Architects, CAs and Liasoners are operating in collusion with each other in multiple departments of VVCMC, an official said. This cartel was allegedly responsible for largescale illegal construction in the jurisdiction of VVCMC. ED investigation revealed that the bribes earned by Pawar were to the tune of Rs 169 crore. ED said that Pawar created a number of entities in the name of his family members/relatives/benamidars to launder the bribe amount collected. The money so earned has been utilised by Pawar in purchasing gold, diamond and pearl jewellery and expensive sarees; investing in warehouses, purchasing farmhouses, investing in residential project floated in the name of wife among others. Earlier, multiple search operations were carried out in the case which led to cash seizure of nearly Rs 8.94 crore, diamond-studded jewellery and bullion worth Rs 23.25 crore and freezing of bank balances/shares/mutual Funds/FDs worth Rs 13.86 crore.
