MUMBAI: On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Vasai-Virar Municipal Commissioner Anil Pawar along with three others, including two builders, in a money laundering case concerning illegal buildings, officials reported.
Pawar’s involvement was revealed in connection with the construction of 41 illegal buildings in Vasai-Virar, located on the outskirts of Mumbai, which were later demolished by the local authorities, according to an official.
The buildings were erected in the Achole area of Vasai on land designated for a dumping ground and a sewage treatment plant.
In addition to Pawar, the arrests included a town planner and two builders, identified as Sitaram and Arun Gupta. Following the arrests, they were taken to the state-run J J Hospital in central Mumbai for a medical checkup. All four individuals are set to appear before a local court on Thursday, as stated by officials.
Last month, the ED conducted raids at several locations associated with Pawar, including his bungalow in Virar and residences in Mumbai and Nashik. These raids occurred the day after the senior bureaucrat was honored with a farewell at the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation following his transfer from the post of civic commissioner.
