Mumbai, 30 July (HS):

The Enforcement Department officers investigating the illegally

constructed 41 buildings in Nala Sopara, recovered Rs 1.25 crore in cash and

some important documents and computer hard disc. The ED raided the residence of

former Municipal Commissioner of Vasai-Virar Anil Kumar Pawar and his relatives

in Mumbai on Tuesday. The ED has not issued any official information as yet.

The raid was

conducted on Pawar and his relatives’ residences a day after his retirement from

service. Pawar had carried some important documents with him after retirement.

His send-off programme was attended by some noted builders, which led to

suspicion by ED.

Pawar’s involvement

in the illegal construction of 41 residential buildings in Nala Sopara on plots

reserved for a different purpose was exposed following complaints by some of the

victims. The Bombay High Court on July 8, 2024, had directed the municipal

authorities to demolish those buildings. The Virar-Vasai Municipal Corporation

demolished the buildings in February this year.

The ED raided several

places in Mumbai and Hyderabad and recovered unaccounted Rs 9.4 crore in cash

and diamond-studded gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 23.25 crore. The

investigation was in progress, and municipal authorities were under suspicion, along with the builders.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar