NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering chargesheet against Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd. (APIL), a real estate firm based in Gurugram, along with its directors Sushil Ansal, Pranav Ansal, and Gopal Ansal.
The prosecution complaint was submitted to a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court by the Gurugram zonal office of the federal agency, related to alleged environmental law violations, according to an ED statement.
Individuals identified in the complaint include APIL as well as its directors and shareholders: Sushil, Pranav, and Gopal Ansal.
The company and its promoters could not be reached for immediate comment.
The charges allege that APIL failed to install a sewage treatment plant (STP) at its ‘Sushant Lok Phase-I’ project, allowing waste to be disposed of through the Haryana Urban Development Authority’s (HUDA) sewer lines. In another instance, the agency claimed the STP at the ‘Esencia’ project was of “inadequate” capacity.
During an inspection by Haryana Pollution Control Board officials, the STPs were reportedly found “abandoned” and lacking operational maintenance, as stated by the agency.
The ED indicated that by not treating domestic waste and sewage in compliance with regulations, APIL not only posed a public health risk but also profited from the situation. It further stated that the company’s promoters “neglected” to treat the waste or follow state pollution control norms, unlawfully benefiting from proceeds amounting to ₹10.55 crore.
Previously, the ED had attached commercial assets worth ₹10.55 crore from the promoters and shareholders in Gurugram, Greater Noida, and Ludhiana as part of this investigation.
The money laundering case originated from a chargesheet by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).
