The Directorate of Enforcement has struck hard against Ansal Properties, attaching assets exceeding ₹598 crore in Agra as proceeds of a massive land grab scandal in Gurugram. This provisional attachment highlights systemic corruption in land acquisition processes, implicating top realty firm executives and officials.
Triggered by a CBI probe initiated per Supreme Court orders, the case revolves around manipulated notifications and releases of government-notified land in Gurugram sectors spanning 58 to 63 and 65 to 67. What was meant for public infrastructure was diverted to private hands through fraudulent GPAs and sham collaborations pre-notification.
ED sleuths uncovered how APIL bypassed fair valuation by securing powers of attorney sans payments, creating leverage to negotiate dirt-cheap deals post-notification. This not only eroded landowner rights but funneled black money into high-end projects.
Key to the approvals were DTCP licenses for Badshahpur land, freeing notified portions for ‘Essencia’ and ‘Versalia’ townships—luxury developments now occupied by unsuspecting buyers. The Agra properties, held by APIL-linked shells, were traced as laundered assets funding these ventures.
As the investigation deepens, this action aims to claw back illicit gains and shield end-consumers from project delays or legal tangles. It marks a pivotal moment in cleaning up Haryana’s real estate sector, plagued by similar scams for years, and reinforces accountability in urban development.