Illegal buildings: ED raids ex-VVCMC chief's home

The probe agency on Tuesday conducted searches at twelve locations in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik

- Abhishek Sharan

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at 12 locations in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik, including the residence of former Vasai-Virar city municipal corporation (VVCMC) commissioner Anil Pawar, as part of its money-laundering investigation into the construction of illegal buildings in Vasai East, which were demolished as per court orders earlier this year.

The searches were conducted at the premises of Pawar's relatives and associates as well, and ‘one such search reportedly yielded over ₹1 crore in cash. ED officials said that the agency was intensifying its probe into allegations concerning the lack of civic action against the illegal buildings for years despite many complaints. It is also probing a suspected cartel of architects, chartered accountants, intermediaries and VVCMC officials that was allegedly responsible for large-scale illegal construction within the jurisdiction of the municipal corporation, the officials added.