Bombay High Court declared Anil Pawar's arrest illegal, ED slammed

Mumbai, October 16 (IANS). The Bombay High Court has reprimanded the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and declared the arrest of former Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Anil Pawar illegal. The court ordered the immediate release of Anil Pawar. This arrest made by ED on August 13, 2025 is related to the Vasai-Virar land scam. The case relates to the sale of 41 unauthorized buildings built between 2008 and 2010. In this context, the local police registered four FIRs, accusing some builders of selling unauthorized flats to the public. His lawyer, dr. Ujjwal Kumar Chauhan (former IRS) appeared on behalf of Anil Pawar and argued in the court that there is no concrete evidence against Anil Pawar related to any criminal income. Dr. Chauhan said that Pawar took over the post of Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Commissioner on January 13, 2022, i.e. around 15 years after the alleged crimes. Based on this fact, it becomes clear that the arrest was not made timely or on any firm basis. Dr. Chauhan also said that ED does not have the right to investigate corruption-related cases. He said that such cases fall squarely under the jurisdiction of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and thus the ED arrest is ultra vires and void in law. He also explained to the court that the arrest was arbitrary and unreasonable, as there was no legal basis for it. The court took this argument seriously and ordered the immediate release of Anil Pawar. The court sent a strong message to the ED that arrests outside the jurisdiction and without any concrete evidence are against the law, and such actions affect the credibility of the judicial process. –IANS PIM/ Share this story Tags