Mumbai,

29 July (HS): The Enforcement Department (ED) on Tuesday raided 12 places

connected to Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Anil Kumar Pawar.

The raids at 12 places were in connection with the 41 illegal buildings in Nala

Sopara. The ED officials did not disclose detailed information about the raid

and their findings.

The ED

officials reached Pawar’s residence around 6 am on Tuesday and started

searching for some documents and contents in his computer. Earlier in this

month, ED had recovered Rs 9.04 crore in cash and diamond-studded jewellery

worth Rs 23.25 crore from 13 places in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Following these

raids enquiry into the suspected agents, builders, and others connected with

the illegal construction was initiated.

The said

buildings were constructed on plots reserved for the Sewage Treatment Plant and

Dumping Ground under the Development Plan. The builders sold the apartments in

these buildings by manipulating documents. Following the exposure of the scandal,

the victims approached the Bombay High Court. The HC on July 8, 2024, ordered

demolition of the illegal buildings. The victims also moved a Special Leave

Petition, which was rejected by the HC.

An enquiry into the involvement of the municipal corporation authorities was initiated.

Sitaram Gupta, Arun Gupta and some others are the main accused in the case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar