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SC to Hear ED’s Plea on Illegal Arrest of Vasai-Virar Chief

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) challenging a Bombay High Court ruling that deemed the arrest of former Vasai-Virar civic body chief Anil Pawar in a money laundering case as “illegal”. The ED arrested Pawar on August 13 in connection with the case. According to the ED, illegal constructions were made, involving the development of 41 buildings between 2008 and 2010 by the accused builders and developers in collusion with City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra officials. The ED’s appeal against the high court’s order from October 15 was…

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HC Calls Ex-Civic Chief’s Arrest in Money Laundering ‘Illegal’

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court deemed the arrest of Anil Pawar, former chief of the Vasai-Virar civic body near Mumbai, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as “illegal” in a money laundering matter, ordering his immediate release. A bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad stated that the ED lacked “tangible material” necessary for his arrest. “We find that on August 13, 2025, the arresting officer had no material as stipulated under section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which indicates a belief that the person is guilty of the offence,” the HC stated. “There is…

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ED Seizes ₹44 Crore Assets of Ex-VVMC Chief in Construction Case

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized assets totaling Rs 71 crore in connection with illegal constructions in Vasai-Virar, of which Rs 44 crore is linked to Anil Pawar (IAS), the former chief of Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation. The ED had previously filed charges against Pawar, town planning deputy director Y.S. Reddy, and 16 others for their involvement in a money laundering case related to unauthorized building projects. During the investigation, the agency attached properties belonging to the accused and builders responsible for constructing 41 illegal buildings in Vasai-Virar, which were ordered to be demolished by the High Court. In…

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ED files chargesheet against ex-VVCMC chief in building case

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against former Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCM) chief Anil Pawar (IAS), town planning deputy director Y.S. Reddy, and 16 others over a money laundering case related to illegal building constructions. As part of the investigation, the ED has attached properties worth around ₹71 crore belonging to the accused and builders who constructed 41 illegal buildings in Vasai Virar, which are now set for demolition following a Bombay High Court ruling. In August, the ED arrested Pawar, Reddy, and two others; they are currently in custody. The ED collected statements from several…

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ED: Builder Paid ₹15 Crore Bribe to Vasai’s Ex-Civic Chief

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…

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ED: Ex-Vasai-Virar Chief and Co-Accused Committed Major Fraud

MUMBAI: Former Vasai-Virar civic chief Anil Pawar, along with three others, has been implicated in a money laundering case involving a “deliberate” abuse of administrative authority and the financial system to facilitate an extensive fraud, according to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a Mumbai court on Wednesday. The ED revealed that “hawala and angadia” channels were utilized to launder illicit proceeds not just within Maharashtra but also in other states. Following this, the special court, which included two real estate developers among the accused, placed all four individuals in custody one week post-arrest. The hawala system is an informal method…

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ED Arrests Ex-Vasai-Virar Chief in Money Laundering Case

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…

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ED uncovers property records tied to ex-Vasai-Virar chief

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated several documents related to properties associated with Anil Pawar, the former civic chief of the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVMC), during searches conducted at 12 locations linked to him this week. According to ED sources, Pawar allegedly “established multiple entities in the names of family members, relatives, and benamidars to facilitate money laundering of bribed funds.” The sources further revealed, “The creation of these shell entities aligns with his tenure as VVCMC commissioner in 2022, engaging largely in cash-intensive businesses such as construction and redevelopment.” Investigations by the ED uncovered a systematic cartel…