Mumbai, Oct 14 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable assets valued at Rs 71 crore in connection with a case involving illegal construction activities by builders on land owned by the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation, according to an official statement released on Tuesday.

The ED's Mumbai Zonal Office took this action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 against the accused, including Anil Pawar, Sitaram Gupta, and others.

The investigation was triggered by numerous FIRs lodged by the Mira Bhayandar Police Commissionerate against builders and their local accomplices, stated the official.

This case revolves around the illegal construction of mixed-use residential and commercial buildings on both government and private land that falls under the jurisdiction of the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) since 2009.

Over time, a total of 41 illegal structures were erected on land designated for a Sewage Treatment Plant and a Dumping Ground, as per the approved development plan of Vasai Virar City.

The Bombay High Court ordered the demolition of all 41 buildings on July 8, 2024. Subsequently, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) was filed with the Supreme Court by residents of the illegal buildings, which was dismissed. The demolition of these structures was completed by VVCMC on February 20, 2025.

The ED's investigation uncovered a well-organized cartel involving VVCMC officials, including the Commissioner, Deputy Director Town Planner, Junior Engineers, Architects, Chartered Accountants, and agents.

Anil Pawar orchestrated this cartel to solicit bribes for protecting existing illegal structures and ignoring ongoing unauthorized developments, according to the ED.

The PMLA investigation revealed a fixed commission of Rs 150 per square foot was levied on illegal construction projects, with Rs 50 per square foot directly pocketed by Pawar. He also accepted bribes to protect the 41 illegal buildings at the same rate.

Investigations indicated that after Anil Pawar became Commissioner of VVCMC, he adjusted the bribe rates to Rs 20-25 per sq ft and Rs 62 per sq ft for various types of development approvals in the Urban and Green Zones, respectively.

The investigation further revealed that Anil Pawar amassed Proceeds of Crime (POC) amounting to Rs 169 crore. On July 13, 2025, he and three accomplices were arrested and are currently in judicial custody.

A Prosecution Complaint in this matter was submitted on October 10, 2025, with the Hon'ble Special PMLA Court yet to take cognizance.

The ED also found that Anil Pawar created various entities under the names of family members and relatives to launder the bribes collected.

The POC accumulated was used for purchasing gold, diamond and pearl jewelry, high-end sarees, investing in warehouses, buying farmhouses, and financing a residential project in his wife's name, among other expenditures.

Much of the POC has been funneled into real estate properties registered in the names of his wife, daughters, and other relatives, amounting to a total of Rs 44 crore that has been attached through a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO).

Prior to this, several search operations were conducted, resulting in the seizure of Rs 8.94 crore in cash, diamond-studded jewelry, and bullion valued at Rs 23.25 crore, as well as the freezing of bank accounts, shares, mutual funds, and fixed deposits worth Rs 13.86 crore.