Mira Bhayander :- In a startling revelation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a web of alleged illegal property acquisitions worth crores by Dilip Dhole, former Commissioner of the Mira Bhaindar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) in Maharashtra. The probe, which falls under the umbrella of the ongoing Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) scam investigation, has shed light on Dhole’s alleged involvement in accumulating properties through shell companies and benami individuals.
The ED’s investigation has reportedly exposed how Dhole managed to acquire these properties, many of which were obtained while he held a prominent position at the Municipal Corporation. The alleged misdeeds came to light after the ED summoned him for questioning regarding the ULC scam. Following the summons, Dhole was removed from his post at MBMC by the Maharashtra government on August 9.
The ULC scam, a multi-crore land scandal, involves the illicit acquisition of land within the MBMC boundaries by a nexus of builders, politicians, and municipal officials. These acquisitions were carried out in violation of the Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, with alleged collusion between the wrongdoers and MBMC officials.
One of the significant aspects of the investigation points towards builders purportedly offering bribes to MBMC officials and intentionally misclassifying residential land as agricultural to evade the regulations set by the ULC Act. Initially, the case was investigated by the Thane police, but later, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was established by the state government to probe further.
Taking charge of the money laundering inquiry in the ULC scam case, the Enforcement Directorate has called upon Dhole to answer for his alleged role in the suspicious property acquisitions. However, despite multiple summons, he has failed to appear before the agency officials for questioning.
The ED’s findings will now be shared with the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Maharashtra police, who will continue to dig into the matter. It is expected that this case will have far-reaching implications, shining a spotlight on corruption and illegal land dealings within the region.
Dhole’s journey from a Deputy Commissioner of the State Goods and Services Tax Department to a key position in the Urban Development ministry during the previous government, coupled with his alleged involvement in the ULC scam, highlights the challenges of ensuring transparency and accountability in public service. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will shape the fate of those implicated in this complex and wide-reaching scandal.
