Bombay HC orders release of former Vasai-Virar civic chief Anil Pawar, holds his arrest illegal in ₹169 cr bribe case

The court has also called Anil Pawar's arrest 'illegal'. He was arrested after an Enforcement Directorate probe in July this year.

Updated on: Oct 15, 2025, 22:55:09 IST

By HT News Desk

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The Bombay high court has ordered the release of former Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) commissioner Anil Pawar, who is alleged to have received bribes worth ₹169 crore for approving unauthorised construction while he was the civic chief till July 2025.

ED raids Anil Pawar, the former commissioner of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) residence

The high court has also called Pawar's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) 'illegal', PTI reported.

"We have formed an opinion that as on August 13, 2025, the arresting officer has no such material as required under section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (reason to believe that person is guilty of offence)," the high court said, according to PTI.

Also Read: Govt suspends ex-VVCMC chief Anil Pawar accused in construction scams

"We mean that there is no tangible material and the whole case of ED is based on statement of certain architects and developers," the bench added.

The ED arrested the IAS officer in July this year alleging that Pawar received bribes worth ₹169 crore in three years during his posting as the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) commissioner.

He had moved the HC challenging his arrest in the case and subsequent orders passed by a special court remanding him to judicial custody. The high court on Wednesday quashed the special court's orders too.

Pawar held the position of VVCMC commissioner from January 2022 to July 2025.

The probe agency, in a chargesheet filed before a Mumbai court on Wednesday, said that the former VMCC commissioner made at least ₹169 crore in bribes and commissions for approving building plans and allowing illegal construction within VVCMC limits.

He is accused of conniving with builders and developers by which 41 illegal buildings were constructed in Vasai and Virar.

The ED has named 18 people and entities in its chargesheet before special PMLA court judge R B Rote. Apart from Pawar, the agency has arrested VVCMC town planner Y Shiva Reddy and two builders Sitaram and Arun Gupta in the money laundering probe.

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HT News Desk
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