ED Seizes Rs 82 Crore Assets in Gurugram Real Estate Scam Investigation
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Thursday that it has provisionally attached immovable properties valued at approximately Rs 82 crore. This action is part of an ongoing probe into an alleged large-scale real estate fraud associated with the commercial project known as "Ansal Hub-83" located in Sector 83, Gurugram.
Legal Action Under PMLA
The ED's Gurugram zonal office executed the attachment under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The attached assets include the project land, measuring 19 Kanal 15 Marla (roughly 2.47 acres), along with all construction completed to date. This measure aims to prevent any potential transfer, sale, or disposal that could obstruct future confiscation proceedings.
Project Details and Allegations
The Ansal Hub-83 project comprises 147 commercial shops, 137 office spaces, and two restaurant units. The ED's investigation was initiated based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Haryana Police in June 2023. The FIR included charges under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code against promoters and senior officials of Ansal Housing Limited, formerly known as Ansal Housing and Construction Ltd.
Key individuals and entities named in the case include Kushagra Ansal, the company's Whole-Time Director, along with associated firms Samyak Projects Private Limited and Aakansha Infrastructure Private Limited. These actions stem from a complaint lodged by the HUB-83 Allottee Welfare Association, which represents over 1,000 investors. According to the ED, these investors were allegedly misled by "false assurances and misleading representations" when they invested in the project.
Investigation Findings
The ED's probe revealed that the project was launched and commercial units were sold to investors even before obtaining valid statutory approvals. Furthermore, the agency stated that although the project licence expired in December 2015, the developers allegedly continued to collect money from investors and sell units until September 2023 without renewing the licence.
Several aggrieved investors also approached the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA), filing complaints regarding:
- Delays in possession
- Non-completion of the project
- Alleged illegal collection of funds
- Violation of statutory obligations by the developer
In a statement, the ED highlighted, "Investors were promised timely possession and world-class facilities; however, even after nearly 15 years, no occupation certificate has been issued, and possession has not been handed over."
Financial Misuse and Ongoing Probe
The agency alleged that funds collected from investors were not utilized for the completion of the project. Instead, they were diverted for other purposes and personal gain. According to the ED, more than Rs 82 crore was collected from allottees between 2011 and 2023. The investigation under the PMLA is currently ongoing, with further actions anticipated as the case develops.
