Anil Pawar, the former commissioner of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, is among four individuals arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges. Y.S. Reddy from the town planning department, along with builders Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta, were also taken into custody. The ED’s actions are part of a probe into a significant corruption network tied to 41 illegal buildings. The accused will be presented before an ED court where the agency will seek custody. The ED seized approximately ₹1.33 crore in cash during raids on locations associated with Pawar’s close associates. Additionally, the ED has seized documents and digital evidence pertaining to properties worth billions.
The investigation uncovered a corruption cartel headed by Anil Pawar, comprising town planning officials, junior engineers, architects, chartered accountants, and liaisons.