Officials, bizmen, politicos under scanner for land grab

Several civic officials, businessmen and politicians are under the scanner for their role in facilitating large-scale land-grab and illegal construction in the Vasai-Virar area, courtesy two ongoing probes into the construction of 41 illegal buildings in Vasai East, on a 60-acre plot reserved for public projects.

- Megha Sood

MUMBAI:

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police started investigating the matter in 2023, after the Achole police registered a first information report (FIR) as per directions of the Bombay high court. In September 2023, the EOW arrested former Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) corporator Sitaram Gupta. The former civic official and his associates fraudulently acquired the 60-acre plot in Agarwal Nagar in Vasai East and sold the land to various builders, the EOW found during its probe.

According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which recently launched a money laundering investigation into construction of the 41 buildings, Gupta is one of the perpetrators of illegal constructions in Vasai-Virar.

Long struggle The 60-acre plot in Agarwal Nagar includes 30 acres of land reserved for public projects, and another 30 acres owned by persons residing in New Zealand and Canada. When Ajay Sharma, caretaker of the privately-owned portion, visited the plot in 2008, he found construction was underway.

"After I asked for documents and permissions for the construction work, (Sitaram) Gupta and his associates assaulted me near my home with swords," Sharma, a resident of Vasai West, told Hindustan Times.