Vasai-Virar land scam: Five days after searches, ED questions IAS officer, wife for more than 8-hours

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.