In a recent raid conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a whopping ₹44 lakh in cash was seized from a sneaky metal cupboard hidden behind a wooden door in a residence located in Nalasopara (East). The search operation took place across 13 different locations in Vasai, Virar, and Hyderabad in Telangana, all part of the ED’s investigation into money laundering linked to the construction of 41 illegal buildings in Vasai East on a 60-acre plot meant for public projects. The cash discovery was made at the former corporator’s house, who is believed to be involved in the illicit constructions, as per the ED officials.
Uncovering the hidden cash became quite the task as the house owner refused to hand over the cupboard key, leading the ED team to seek help from a key-maker to crack it open. The raid didn’t stop at just cash findings, with a total seizure amounting to a staggering ₹32.29 crore, out of which ₹23.25 crore was in diamond-studded jewelry and bullion, while the remaining ₹9.04 crore was in cold, hard cash. Most of the valuables and cash were confiscated from the Hyderabad residence of Y S Reddy, the deputy director of town planning at Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), who experienced health issues and had to be rushed to the hospital post the raid.
Digging deeper into the investigation, it was revealed that several former VVCMC senior officials colluded with a group of builders to push forward with the illegal constructions in Vasai-Virar. The ED probe was set in motion after multiple FIRs were filed by the Mira-Bhayandar police commissionerate regarding the construction of the 41 unauthorized buildings. These structures were built through a series of fraudulent activities such as forging approval documents, creating fake agreements, and selling units to unsuspecting buyers. The situation escalated to the point where the Bombay High Court ordered the demolition of all 41 buildings earlier this year, leaving thousands of residents displaced due to the Supreme Court’s decision to deny them any relief.
