In a major action against civic corruption, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted raids at multiple locations linked to former Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) Commissioner Anil Pawar. The searches are part of a money laundering probe into the unauthorized construction of 41 buildings on 60 acres of civic land that was originally reserved for sewage treatment and dumping grounds.
The ED has confirmed searches at Pawar’s residence and official premises, along with 12 other locations across Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik. These premises are believed to be connected to Pawar through personal or professional associations, including suspected shell companies and developers.
Anil Pawar, a 2014-batch IAS officer, vacated the VVMC Commissioner’s office on Monday after being transferred as part of a wider bureaucratic reshuffle ordered by the Maharashtra government. He has been replaced by M.M. Suryawanshi, IAS, who formally took charge on Tuesday.
The ED's case revolves around allegations that during Pawar’s tenure, civic land designated for essential public services was diverted for unauthorized real estate development, allegedly without required environmental or municipal clearances. Investigators suspect that building permissions and land use changes were facilitated in violation of urban planning norms.
