MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims that a builder paid Anil Pawar, the former civic chief of Vasai-Virar, and Y S Reddy, the deputy director of town planning, a bribe of Rs 15 crore to secure project clearances. Both individuals were arrested in August during a money laundering investigation connected to alleged illegal constructions and corruption.
While seeking Reddy’s custody, the ED reported that both he and Pawar demanded Rs 30 per square foot from the builder, totaling a bribe request of Rs 4.3 crore for one project.
According to an employee under Reddy’s supervision, bribes were collected and delivered under duress, with major builders often meeting Pawar at his official residence. This employee also identified 586 commencement certificates for buildings issued during the tenures of Reddy and Pawar. An architect’s recorded statement alleged that bribes were accepted by both officials for granting commencement certificates on numerous pending proposals, and he facilitated these payments via Reddy.
The ED informed the court that Reddy’s confrontation with property documents obtained during the investigation is necessary to ascertain their source, along with numerous high-value transactions associated with him. Reddy’s legal counsel argued that the remand report lacked new information compelling an extension of custody, asserting that statements should not be grounds for ED custody. Nonetheless, the court deemed the reasons for additional ED custody adequate and remanded Reddy to the agency’s custody until Monday.
Prior to the arrests, the ED had seized Rs 8.6 crore in undisclosed cash and jewellery worth Rs 23.2 crore from Reddy’s residence. Additionally, Rs 1.3 crore in unaccounted cash belonging to Pawar was discovered at a relative’s location, along with multiple property documents. Evidence also emerged indicating that a relative of Pawar in Dadar received a cash bribe of Rs 3.4 crore, allegedly transported by an angadia.
This money laundering case stems from various FIRs regarding the unauthorized construction of 41 residential and commercial buildings on both government and private land overseen by the Vasai-Virar civic body. These buildings were demolished following a recent court order.
