Tag: Vasai

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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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Vasai Arrests: Only One Town Planner Remains, Files Pile Up

VASAI: The recent arrest of Y S Reddy, deputy director of the Vasai-Virar civic body’s town planning department, along with ex-commissioner Anil Pawar, in a money laundering scandal linked to alleged corruption and unauthorized construction, has led to unexpected consequences. The backlog of building project approvals has soared due to a staffing shortage, resulting in significant revenue losses. Following the arrests, one of the two remaining officials in the department took leave and has not returned, leaving only one town planner to manage operations. A civic official confirmed, “Due to the lack of senior planning officers, no files have been…

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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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Deadly Dreams: The Vasai-Virar Real Estate Scam

MUMBAI: A severe housing scam is currently unraveling in the Vasai-Virar suburb, jeopardizing homebuyers amid collusion with civic officials. Unchecked construction mafias are building unauthorized structures using forged Commencement and Occupation Certificates. These illegal properties are subsequently sold to unsuspecting buyers, offering the false promise of legal approval—an alarming fraud with dire repercussions. Death Trap A senior officer from the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) Police confirmed that the Ramabai Apartment, which tragically collapsed in Virar, claimed 17 lives and was constructed by a fraudulent builder using fake certificates. “When a builder resorts to forging Commencement or Occupation Certificates, they…

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Bombay HC Orders 11 to Vacate Dilapidated Vasai Buildings

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court, noting that an obstructive attitude can hinder redevelopment, has directed the minority residents of four deteriorating buildings in Vasai West to vacate their apartments for demolition. An extension of 15 days was granted to 11 members due to the Ganpati festival. Justices Girish Kulkarni and Manjusha Deshpande emphasized on August 21, “These members must cooperate by vacating their units for the demolition.” Petitions were submitted by Pushpanjali CHSL and Deepanjali CHSL regarding their buildings located at Diwan and Sons Housing Enclave on Ambadi Road, which were declared dangerous by the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC)…

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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…

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Architects, Officials Colluded for Illegal Construction: ED

NEW DELHI: A significant cartel, comprising architects, chartered accountants, and officials of the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra, has been implicated in extensive illegal construction on land designated for sewage treatment plants. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), these individuals sold this land fraudulently to the public. The federal agency confirmed that on July 1, they conducted searches at 16 sites related to a money laundering investigation concerning 41 illegal buildings in the Vasai Virar area. During these raids, the ED froze bank deposits and mutual funds valued at ₹12.71 crore and seized ₹26 lakh in cash, along…