The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Supreme Court, contesting the Bombay High Court's decision that deemed the arrest of IAS officer Anil Kumar Pawar unlawful. The ED submitted a Special Leave Petition (SLP) to this effect. Anil Pawar, the former Commissioner of the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVMC), is accused of being involved in a money laundering case associated with the illegal construction of 41 buildings on government land. The ED’s petition in the Supreme Court could be heard on Friday morning.
Sources reveal that ED officials justified their reasons for arrest before proceeding. During a raid on Pawar’s residence, despite being inside, he reportedly refused to open the door for two hours and attempted to erase evidence from his mobile phone during this time.
On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court delivered a significant setback to the ED, declaring Anil Kumar Pawar's arrest “illegal.” Chief Justice Shrikant Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A. Ankad noted that the agency lacked concrete evidence to justify the arrest. The court stated, “The petition succeeds,” and invalidated the Special Court's orders, declaring the arrest void.
During the hearing, the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing ED, was questioned by the court about the basis for the arrest. The court also inquired if the entire case hinged solely on witness statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Singh mentioned WhatsApp chats between Pawar and the Deputy Director of Town Planning Department, co-accused Y.S. Reddy, referencing a conspiracy. Testimonies from certain builders and architects further highlighted the alleged scheme.
Also Read: IAS Officer Accused of Amassing ₹169 Crore Property with Bribes! ED Alleges Bribe Amount Decided for Every Inch of Illegal Construction
However, the bench remained unconvinced. Chief Justice stated, “You cannot expect the court to ask for more proof. All you have are statements under Section 50(1) of PMLA and chat logs, lacking substantial evidence.”
Later, ED argued there was nothing illegal about the arrest, referencing evidence of money transferred from Reddy to Pawar’s wife’s account. Nonetheless, the court found this insufficient, stating such weak grounds were inadequate to deprive someone of their liberty.
The court deemed the arrest “unjust,” instructing Pawar’s legal team—Senior Lawyers Rajeev Shakhdar, Karan Khetani, and Ujjwalakumar Chavan—to ensure Pawar provided a written assurance not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
In this case, the ED has filed a charge sheet accusing money laundering of ₹300.92 crores, with approximately ₹169 crores reportedly linked to Anil Pawar.
