Overview
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta sought Anil Pawar’s response and listed the ED’s challenge for hearing in about three weeks.
- The Bombay High Court on October 15 held Pawar’s August 13 arrest illegal and quashed his PMLA remand, noting no recovery from him or his family and limiting reliance on post-arrest material.
- ED alleges 41 illegal buildings were raised in Vasai-Virar during 2008–2010 and pegs proceeds of crime at Rs 300.92 crore, with about Rs 169 crore linked to Pawar in its prosecution complaint.
- ED told the Supreme Court that photographs of ornaments were taken before the arrest and referred to WhatsApp chats, while Pawar’s counsel argued there is no basis for intervention.
- Pawar maintains he joined VVCMC only in 2022 and denies involvement in the earlier alleged illegalities, with the High Court noting he was not named in certain FIRs.