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ED Freezes ₹12 Crore in Second-Round Raids on Architects, Engineers in Vasai-Virar Scam

The agency’s second-phase operation uncovered forged approvals alongside linked gold transactions as it digs deeper into the network behind the 41 buildings hauled down in February.

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41 illegal Vasai buildings: ED conducts searches at premises of architect, civic engineers
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Overview

  • ED teams executed searches at 16 premises across Vasai-Virar, including sites in Mumbai’s western suburbs, targeting architects, liaison agents, municipal engineers.
  • Investigators froze ₹12 crore held in bank balances, demat accounts, fixed deposits, mutual funds along with seizing ₹25 lakh in cash from suspects linked to the construction case.
  • Investigators found forged land-use approvals designed to override zoning rules for 41 unauthorized buildings on land reserved for sewage treatment/dumping sites.
  • The probe has expanded to examine gold-based transactions suspected of funding bribes that secured clearances for the now-demolished structures.
  • ED officials are tracing money-laundering channels, set to record statements from key accused including architects, middlemen as the investigation deepens.