Daijiworld Media Network-Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 14: In a major crackdown on corruption in the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested IAS officer Anil Pawar, former civic chief of VVCMC, deputy director of town planning Y S Reddy, and two others — including ex-BVA corporator Sitaram Gupta — in connection with the illegal construction of 41 buildings and large-scale cheating of flat buyers.

The accused will be produced before court on Thursday. ED sources revealed that Pawar allegedly indulged in manipulation and bribery soon after taking charge as civic chief in 2022, laundering the proceeds through shell companies. His wife’s company, engaged in construction projects in Nashik, was allegedly used as a conduit for bribes from builders.

In May, ED raided Reddy’s Hyderabad residence, seizing Rs 8.6 crore in cash and jewellery and bullion worth Rs 23.2 crore. Recent searches at Pawar’s premises and those of his associates yielded Rs 1.3 crore in unaccounted cash stashed with a relative and several property documents.

According to investigators, Pawar allegedly took bribes based on square footage rates to approve projects, and refrained from acting against the 41 illegal residential and commercial buildings — some built on land reserved for sewage treatment and dumping — even after complaints. The structures, built since 2009 on both government and private land, were demolished only after a recent court order, leaving flat buyers facing huge losses.

The ED named Arun Gupta as another key figure in the scam, which involved deep collusion between VVMC officials and builders. Officials claim the illegal constructions spanned 60 acres, with land meant for civic infrastructure misused for private gain.

The high-profile arrest has sparked political controversy. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that Pawar’s appointment as VVCMC chief was facilitated by state school education minister Dada Bhuse, a senior leader in the Eknath Shinde faction, by bending norms. Bhuse admitted Pawar is a distant relative, but said the appointment happened during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure as CM.

Reddy, who had served with VVCMC for years, reportedly provided crucial evidence against Pawar during ED’s probe. The agency maintains that while Pawar was not in office during the actual construction period, his inaction allowed the scam to flourish unchecked.