The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Dilip Dhole, Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation commissioner, as part of its investigation into the Urban Land Ceiling Regulation Act (ULCRA) scam, a pre-2016 fraud involving developers and officials. The scam manipulated land classifications to evade land surrender requirements, causing government losses. Dhole's complex governmental history and role in the ULCRA case are under scrutiny, while the ED's inquiry builds on prior investigations by Thane police and focuses on money laundering aspects.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently taken a significant step in its ongoing investigation into a high-profile money laundering case linked to the multi-crore Urban Land Ceiling Regulation Act (ULCRA) scam. In a significant development, the ED has summoned Dilip Dhole, the current commissioner of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC), to provide crucial insights into the intricate web of financial irregularities surrounding the scam. This move comes as the ED intensifies its efforts to uncover the truth behind this complex case, which dates back to before 2016.
The ULCRA scam, which sent shockwaves through the corridors of power in 2016, involved a meticulously orchestrated scheme where a group of developers allegedly colluded with government officials. The objective was to manipulate land classification documents, deceitfully categorizing certain plots within the MBMC jurisdiction as "green zones" rather than "residential zones." This strategic misclassification provided the builders with a loophole to evade their obligation of surrendering excess land portions to the government, resulting in substantial losses to the public exchequer. Furthermore, reports suggest that these unscrupulous builders greased the wheels of corruption by purportedly bribing government and civic authorities to turn a blind eye to their fraudulent activities.
ED sources have indicated that they meticulously gathered statements from a myriad of individuals prior to summoning Dilip Dhole. Their focus on obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the case underscores the agency's commitment to a thorough and impartial investigation. However, despite attempts by various media outlets to reach out to Dhole for his response, he has remained reticent, declining to respond to phone calls and messages.
This case, which had previously been scrutinized by the Thane police under the stewardship of then Thane police commissioner Param Bir Singh, has already seen a series of arrests and allegations. One noteworthy development was a letter penned by a builder to the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The letter alleged that Param Bir Singh, during his tenure as Thane police commissioner, had allegedly favoured several builders implicated in the ULCRA scam.
Prompted by these allegations, the state government took decisive action, launching an inquiry into the matter and establishing a dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT). Consequently, a string of arrests, including a town planner from Mira-Bhayander and an architect, sent shockwaves through the implicated circles.
It is essential to underline that the ED's involvement in this case stems from its reliance on the groundwork laid by the Thane police's investigation. The subsequent registration of a money laundering case by the ED demonstrates the overarching seriousness with which authorities are approaching this high-stakes situation. As the ED delves deeper into the financial intricacies of the ULCRA scam, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the role of various individuals, including Dilip Dhole, whose testimony could potentially unravel the complex tapestry of this sprawling scandal.
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