Crime
ED Maintains Pawar Arrest Lawful And Necessary In Money Laundering Probe, Cites Evidence Tampering, Multi-Crore Bribery and Shielding Of Accused Builders
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has come out strongly against criticism of its move to arrest former Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) Commissioner Anil Kumar Khanderao Pawar, insisting the action is not only lawful and legal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) but also absolutely necessary to ensure the integrity of the probe.
The agency alleged that Pawar played a central role in a bribery and laundering racket running into hundreds of crores and this is backed by builder testimonies, WhatsApp chats, and cash trail analysis.
According to ED’s findings, Pawar’s name prominently surfaced during the investigation into 41 illegal buildings constructed over nearly 60 acres of government and private land.Statements from builders allege that senior civic officials, including Pawar, allegedly accepted substantial bribes to “turn a blind eye” to rampant encroachments and unauthorized developments.
The ED has pointed out that Pawar, during his tenure as head of VVCMC’s demolition department,failed to act against illegal constructions despite multiple complaints and even a civil writ petition (CWP) pending before court. Demolitions of 41 unauthorised buildings were carried out only after the direct intervention of the Bombay High Court. According to the agency, this exposes Pawar’s role in shielding builders in exchange for bribes, and “it is incorrect to suggest that he did not receive money from the proceeds of crime.”
Further scrutiny of WhatsApp chats and financial records revealed that Pawar allegedly received over Rs 17.75 crore from senior VVCMC officer Y.S. Reddy through cash deliveries routed via angadias. At least Rs 3.37 crore was reportedly handed over at a Dadar office to one of Pawar’s relatives. Linking the payments to the sanctioning of multiple construction projects, the ED has estimated the total bribe amount to run into several crores.
The agency says, was a clear attempt to tamper with evidence.On July 29, 2025, ED officers conducted a search at Pawar’s residence.The ED has accused Anil Pawar of actively obstructing investigators during a search operation at his residence on July 29, 2025. The search team, arriving at 6:15 a.m., repeatedly rang the bell for over two hours, but the door was never opened. Both Pawar and his wife allegedly ignored calls, disconnected lines, and even switched off their phones while the ED was outside.
It was only at 8:35 a.m., with the assistance of local police and a locksmith, that the ED team finally managed to gain entry. By then, investigators found that Pawar had deleted WhatsApp chats and call logs from his mobile phone while officers were waiting outside. Officials say this proves that Pawar was not only aware of the raid but used the delay to tamper with evidence crucial to the money laundering probe.
“The deletion of call records and WhatsApp data shows deliberate intent to destroy incriminating material. His custodial arrest became inevitable to prevent further obstruction of justice,” an ED official said.
According to ED sources, Pawar’s arrest was “not just legal but unavoidable.” As VVCMC Commissioner until July this year, he wielded enormous administrative authority, influence, and access to confidential files far beyond public reach. Officials said this power created a “grave and reasonable apprehension” that Pawar could misuse his position to influence or intimidate witnesses, including builders, architects, liaison agents, and VVCMC officials, or tamper with vital evidence. Allowing him to remain outside custody could have derailed the probe, enabling him to shield co-accused and beneficiaries while frustrating efforts to trace the full scale of the corruption network.
According to ED sources the scale of corruption, running into hundreds of crores in bribes and with possible chances of cross-border fund flows, demands custodial interrogation. Such proceeds of crime may have cross-border implications, potentially leading to the use of laundered money not only in India but also abroad.
According to ED sources Testimonies from builders, architects, and liaison agents suggest that Pawar allegedly collected commissions ranging from Rs 20–25 per sq. ft. of the built-up area as bribe for every project approval,with rates going up to Rs 50 per sq. ft. depending on project complexity and the builder’s financial muscle.This systematic extortion, corroborated by multiple builders, architects, civic officers and liaison agents, ensured that no residential, commercial or mixed-use project in Vasai-Virar could move forward without Pawar’s cut.
In a statement recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA on August 7, 2025, senior VVCMC officer and accused Y.S. Reddy detailed the bribe distribution system allegedly orchestrated by Pawar. According to him, “Municipal Commissioner Anil Pawar would take Rs 20–25 per sq. ft. The Deputy Director of Town Planning (DDTP) received Rs 10 per sq. ft., while Rs4 per sq. ft. went to the Assistant Director of Town Planning (ADTP) / Town Planner, and Rs1 per sq. ft. to the Junior Engineer. For plots above 2,000 sq. m, the file was handled by the ADTP; proposals below 2,000 sq. m were dealt with by the Town Planner.”
The statement establishes that Pawar was not acting in isolation but ran a well-oiled extortion network inside the civic body, ensuring kickbacks trickled down from commissioner to junior engineers.Sources from ED said that this structured bribe chain, corroborated by builders, architects, and liaison agents, confirms the systematic laundering of “commission money” into proceeds of crime, making custodial interrogation under PMLA unavoidable.
Crime
Delhi Police solve Usmanpur robbery case, arrest two accused; stolen mobile phone recovered

New Delhi, Oct 12: Delhi Police solved a robbery case in New Usmanpur area by arresting two accused, including a proclaimed bad character (BC) of Bhajanpura police station. The mobile phone robbed from the victim has also been recovered, officials said.
According to police, the incident took place on October 8, when Man Singh, 28, a resident of South Gamri in Delhi who works as a taxi driver, was walking from 4.5 Pusta towards the parking area at 5th Pusta to collect his vehicle at around 5 a.m.
When he reached a garbage dump, three persons allegedly intercepted him. One of them grabbed him from behind and choked him, while another pressed a knife-like object against his stomach.
Meanwhile, the third accused took his mobile phone and wallet containing Rs 1,500 and his driving licence from his trouser pocket. They also snatched an earring from his ear before fleeing towards Khajuri Chowk.
Following the complaint, a case was registered under FIR No. 639/2026 dated October 8 under Sections 309(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was initiated.
A police team under the supervision of Seelampur ACP cracked the case, arresting the key suspect.
The team analysed footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras and developed local intelligence, leading to the identification and arrest of the two accused on October 9.
The accused have been identified as Arif alias Khujli, 25, a resident of Gali No. 4, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Delhi, and Dilshad Sheikh, 24, a resident of Gali No. 24, 5th Pusta, Gamri, Bhajanpura, Delhi.
During verification, Arif was found to be a “bad character” of Bhajanpura police station, with six previous cases related to robbery, theft and offences under the Arms Act. Dilshad was previously involved in two robbery cases, police said.
During interrogation, both accused confessed to their involvement in the crime and disclosed information about a third associate. On October 10, during police custody remand, the victim’s robbed mobile phone was recovered at Arif’s instance.
Crime
Ambulance-borne thieves wearing nighties target ATM in Telangana

Hyderabad, Oct 12: Unidentified thieves wearing nighties and masks, who arrived in an ambulance, looted an ATM in Telangana Kamareddy district on Sunday, officials said on Monday.
According to police, the burglars broke into a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM and, after damaging the machine with gas cutters, escaped with the cash. The crime, committed between 1 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. in Gandhari village, was captured on the CCTV camera.
The footage shows the offenders arriving in an ambulance, wearing masks, caps and gloves, cutting open the ATM with gas cutters and fleeing with cash. The suspects appear to be men. However, police have not ruled out the involvement of women as a woman was involved in the recent theft at an ATM in Karimnagar district.
The theft came to light on Monday morning after locals noticed the damaged machine and alerted the police. The police reached the scene, registered a case, and collected evidence with the assistance of a clues team.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage to identify the suspects and reconstruct their movements before and after the robbery. The amount of cash stolen remains unconfirmed, with verification of the ATM’s cash balance required to establish the loss.
Police are also investigating whether the ambulance used in the crime was genuine or it was just to disguise their movements.
Last month, burglars damaged two ATMs and looted cash in Telangana’s Karimnagar town. The offenders targeted two ATMs of the SBI in two different areas, using gas cutters to break open the machines and fled with the cash.
The thefts, committed in Durshed under Karimnagar Rural Police Station limits and Thimmapur under LMD Police Station limits on September 19, were captured on CCTV.
At Durshed, the thieves allegedly sprayed a liquid on the CCTV cameras before stealing the cash from the ATM.
Police identified the involvement of a woman based on the CCTV footage.
Two burglars, including a woman, reached the Durshed ATM in a car. The accused were wearing caps, spectacles, gloves and masks.
After damaging the ATM, they took away Rs 8 lakh stored in the machine.
Crime
Assam Rifles seize methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 2 crore in Tripura, one arrested

Agartala, Oct 12: The Assam Rifles have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 2 crore and arrested a suspected drug peddler in Tripura, officials said on Monday.
A defence spokesman said that the Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit (ARFIU) and Customs Department, Agartala, apprehended a suspected drug peddler and recovered 1.994 kg of methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba tablets, worth approximately Rs 2 crore at Mohanpur in West Tripura District.
A bike was also seized from the individual, a resident of Mohanpur.
The apprehended suspected drug peddler, recovered contraband, and the two-wheeler were subsequently handed over to the Customs Department, Agartala, for further investigation.
Assam Rifles remains committed to combating drug trafficking and the narcotics menace in Tripura through coordinated operations with other law enforcement agencies, contributing towards a drug-free society, an Assam Rifles statement said.
The methamphetamine tablets, also known as party tablets, containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, also called the ‘crazy drug’, are banned in India.
Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Customs, in two separate operations last week, have seized 841 kg of ganja (marijuana) worth around Rs 4.24 crore in Tripura’s Khowai district.
A defence spokesman said that as part of a crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with Customs officials, conducted both operations.
Police officials said that the state police, Assam Rifles, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and other security forces, in joint operations, often destroy illicit ganja cultivation in different parts of the state, especially in Sepahijala district, which shares a border with Bangladesh.
According to a police official, dry ganja produced in Tripura is not consumed locally and is smuggled to various states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where it fetches higher prices. During transportation, consignments of dry ganja are often seized from trucks, small vehicles and even passenger trains.
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