ED Raids in Mumbai, Hyderabad Uncover Rs. 9.04 Crore Cash, Rs. 23.25 Crore Worth of Jewellery and Bullion
Mumbai/Hyderabad, May 15, 2025: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive searches across 13 locations in Mumbai and Hyderabad on May 14 and 15, seizing Rs. 9.04 crore in cash, diamond-studded jewellery and bullion worth Rs. 23.25 crore, and several incriminating documents. The raids targeted premises linked to YS Reddy, Deputy Director of Town Planning at Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), where Rs. 8.6 crore in cash and Rs. 23.25 crore worth of jewellery and bullion were confiscated.
The ED initiated the operation following allegations that Reddy colluded with builders to grant unauthorized permissions for 41 illegal constructions in the Vasai-Virar region. A case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, after investigations revealed irregularities in constructions on government and private lands since 2009, allegedly facilitated by VVCMC officials. The Bombay High Court had ordered the demolition of these 41 structures on July 8, 2024.
Officials were reportedly stunned by the sheer volume of cash, gold, and jewellery recovered during the searches. The seized documents are believed to hold critical evidence of widespread corruption and illegal activities in the Vasai-Virar area. Reddy has a prior record, having been arrested in April 2016 by the Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for attempting to bribe a Shiv Sena corporator with Rs. 25 lakh.
The ED’s investigation is ongoing, with further details expected to emerge as the probe deepens.
