India, Oct. 15 -- Former Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) commissioner and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anil Pawar made at least Rs.169 crore via bribes and commissions for approving various building plans and turning a blind eye to illegal construction within VVCMC limits, according to the charge sheet submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a special court.

After joining the VVCMC as commissioner in 2022, Pawar allegedly formed a cartel of civic officers, junior engineers, architects, chartered accountants and liasioners that set in motion large-scale illegal construction in Vasai-Virar. He fixed the bribe/ commission amounts for various types of approvals and permissions, including his own share, ...