Vasai-Virar ex-civic chief set up 'gang', took bribe to spare illegal buildings: ED to court

Former VasaiVirar civic commissioner Anil Pawar arrested in a money laundering case took substantial bribe for not taking action against rampant illegal constructions in the twincity the Enforcement Directorate has told a special court reported news agency PTIThe IAS officer formed a gang involving senior officers and junior engineers among others soon after taking charge as the civic commissioner three years ago and charged huge commission for granting permissions for construction of buildings the probe agency alleged on ThursdayPawar and three others including two builders arrested in the case were sent to ED custody till August 20 by the courtBesides Pawar VasaiVirar City Municipal Corporation VVCMC town planner Y Shiva Reddy and two builders Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta were arrested on Wednesday by the central agency in connection with the case linked to illegal constructions reported PTIThey were produced before a special judge handling cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA Raju Rote who remanded them in ED custody till August 20The case pertains to illegal construction of residentialcumcommercial buildings on government and private land under jurisdiction of VVCMCThe probe agency alleged that over a period of time 41 illegal buildings were constructed on private and government land parcels reserved for a sewage treatment plant and dumping ground as per the approved development plan of VasaiVirar a twincity on Mumbais outskirts in Palghar district reported PTIThe accused developers Sitaram and Arun Gupta looted the general public at large by constructing illegal buildings and subsequently selling them by fabricating approval documents the ED told the court while seeking their remandThe developers deceived buyers by selling rooms in these buildings in spite of knowing that the structures were unauthorised and slated for demolition thereby committing fraud the antimoney laundering agency addedThe ED sought the custody of the four accused for ten days to investigate and ascertain the role and involvement of other persons in the huge scam reported PTIThe central agency submitted in the court that they need to identify other beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime trace the end utilization of the tainted money and identify the properties acquired through itHighlighting the alleged role of Pawar in the scam the ED claimed the senior bureaucrat organized a gang with senior officers junior engineers architects CAs and liaisoners after joining as the municipal commissioner in 2022He was involved in an organized action plan to acquire the proceeds of crime by committing illegal omission to perform his public duty the financial crimes probe agency said reported PTIThe probe agency stressed that the real estate developers who constructed the 41 illegal buildings in their statements have said a substantial amount of bribe money was given to senior officers of VVCMC including Pawar for keeping a blind eye and taking no action over rampant illegal construction on governmentprivate land reported PTIThe IAS officer as head of the demolition department of VVCMC didnt take action against illegal constructions over governmentprivate land in his jurisdictionThe ED pointed out that it was only after a Bombay High Courts order that illegal buildings were demolishedPawar would charge huge commissionbribe for granting development permissions required from the VVCMC for construction of buildings it submitted reported PTIFurther the probe agency stated that the accused builders were the main persons behind illegal acquisition of land and construction of buildings without any approval from statutory authoritiesRealtor Sitaram Gupta layered money through fraudulent documentation and tax regularisation and projected them as legitimate income He used dummy owners and shell builder firms often registered in the names of drivers rickshaw pullers or employees to shield them from legal scrutiny said the EDThe two arrested builders were ultimate beneficiaries of all customer funds generated from the sale of illegally constructed flats it told the courtOn the role of town planner Reddy the ED noted he also took huge bribe for not taking action against the illegal constructionsAs part of the probe into the case the ED conducted raids late last month at multiple locations linked to Pawar including his bungalow in Virar and residences in Mumbai and Nashik reported PTIThe raids were conducted a day after the senior bureaucrat was given a farewell at the VVCMC following his transfer from the post of civic commissionerWith inputs from PTI