Four, including civic officials, held by ED in illegal construction case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested four individuals, including senior officials of the civic body and builders in a case related to alleged illegal constructions linked to the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), sources said on Thursday.

They were arrested by the anti- money laundering agency on Wednesday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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According to the sources, the probe in the case by the ED revealed illegal constructions that were undertaken by certain builders, and then had been sold to innocent investors.

However, the illegal constructions had been brought down subsequently after the court’s order.

As a result, many innocent home buyers went homeless.

Sources say that in this case, search actions were conducted at various places as part of the ongoing probe by the financial crime investigating agency, that resulted in the seizure of large amounts of cash, jewellery, along with incriminating electronic evidence in the form of communication platform chats, the agency claimed.

It is alleged that the recovered chats were between the deputy town planner and senior civic body official, which as per agency’s claim indicates the formation of an alleged organised cartel to collect bribes per square feet from the approval given to various projects.

Those who have been arrested include, former Municipal Commissioner of the VVCMC, a builder and corporator from a local political party, another builder and the deputy town planner, who is now suspended.