Tag: Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation

Latest StoriesRegulatory

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…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

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…

IndustryLatest Stories

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…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Vasai-Virar suspends assistant commissioner for inaction on illegal buildings

VIRAR: The Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) suspended Ganesh Patil, an Assistant Municipal Commissioner (AMC), for failing to take action against illegal constructions in his area. The corporation emphasized that ongoing illegal structures will no longer be tolerated. Following the Virar building collapse last month that resulted in 17 deaths and nine injuries, VVCMC pledged to initiate a significant demolition campaign starting September 8. A special team consisting of ten squads, each with five VVCMC members, was created for this purpose. Patil received a show cause notice on September 9, yet he and his team allegedly took no action on…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

After Virar Collapse, Civic Body to Demolish 141 Illegal Structures

PALGHAR: Following the tragic collapse of an illegally constructed building that resulted in 17 fatalities in Virar, the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) announced plans to demolish 141 unauthorized structures within its jurisdiction. An official shared these details on Thursday. The demolition drive is scheduled to commence on September 8, right after the conclusion of the Ganesh festival. On Thursday, VVCMC mobilized a 50-member demolition squad, which includes several contracted engineers. The teams will consist of ten groups with five members each, according to the official. On August 27, the rear section of the four-story Ramabai Apartments in Virar collapsed,…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

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…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

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…