The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) declared the arrest of Anil Pawar, former Commissioner of the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as illegal, ordering his immediate release. The court held that the agency failed to produce the requisite material under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to justify the arrest.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad observed that the ED’s case relied primarily on statements from developers and architects, WhatsApp chats, and financial trails, but lacked tangible evidence.
