Latest StoriesRegulatory

ED seizes ₹400 crore in assets linked to Jaypee Group fraud

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Wednesday that it has attached assets worth ₹400 crore linked to a trust associated with former Jaypee Infratech MD Manoj Gaur, as well as with Honeyy Katiyal, the promoter of leading housing brokerage Investors Clinic. This action, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), is part of an investigation into Jaypee group companies—Jaypee Infratech Ltd (JIL) and Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL)—involving allegations of large-scale fraud and misappropriation of funds collected from homebuyers of the Jaypee Wishtown and Jaypee Greens projects in Noida. According to the ED, a provisional order has been…

Latest StoriesResidential

2025 Residential Sales Steady at 3.48 Lakh Units in Top 8 Cities

NEW DELHI: Housing sales in the top eight Indian cities reached 348,207 units, reflecting a slight 1% year-on-year decline, according to a recent report from Knight Frank India. Despite the minor annual decrease, the total sales for the second half of the year stood at 178,406 units, the highest performance recorded for H2 since 2013. In 2025, new housing launches totaled 362,184 units, down 3% year-on-year, but still surpassed sales figures, demonstrating developers’ confidence in long-term demand. Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, noted that the residential market is consolidating at elevated levels, driven primarily by genuine end-user demand rather…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Jaipur Civic Body Seals Four Buildings for Tax Delinquency

Representative Image JAIPUR: On Tuesday, the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) sealed four properties in the Civil Lines zone due to outstanding urban development tax. Nine properties were reviewed for recovery, with five owners settling their dues immediately, resulting in approximately Rs 12 lakh collected. The four remaining properties were sealed in compliance with regulations. Civil Lines Divisional Commissioner Devanand Sharma stated, “During the operation, owners of five properties paid their outstanding dues. The attachment and sealing of the four properties followed the established rules. Efforts are ongoing to recover the pending amounts, together with applicable interest and penalties as set…

CommercialLatest Stories

Report: India Office Leasing Reaches 86.4 Million Sq Ft by 2025

NEW DELHI: India’s office market achieved a remarkable milestone in 2025, with gross leasing volumes soaring to an unprecedented 86.4 million sq ft, reflecting a 20% year-on-year increase, as reported by Knight Frank India. The annual leasing volume not only surpassed the previous high recorded in 2024 but also exceeded the pre-pandemic figure from 2019 by 43%. Bengaluru retained its status as the nation’s largest office market, with 28.7 million sq ft leased, marking an impressive 59% year-on-year growth. Following Bengaluru were Hyderabad (11.4 million sq ft), Delhi NCR (11.3 million sq ft), Pune (10.8 million sq ft), and Chennai…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Ahmedabad collects impact fee for two homes on govt land

AHMEDABAD: Officials from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) have faced allegations of collusion and irregularities from a co-operative housing society in Ghatlodia ward. Society members claim that AMC officials in the North West Zone improperly collected impact fees for two houses constructed illegally on government land, falsely attributing them to their society. On December 22, 2024, the society members submitted an appeal to the Appellate Authority in Gandhinagar under the Gruda Act, 2022. The appeal, initiated by Natwarlal Panchal along with eight other society members, states that impact fees were unlawfully charged in May 2024 for the two homes built…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Illegal Construction Soars in Raisina Hill: Walls, Roads Razed

GURUGRAM: Construction is thriving in the Raisina hills, despite the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordering Haryana to dismantle illegal structures on protected Aravali lands. In response to ongoing activities, the forest department initiated another demolition drive, removing structures and boundary walls from approximately 25 acres. They also sealed a borewell and dismantled pillars at two sites that seemed to be intended for future construction. Forest officials also blocked four roads constructed to provide access to forest areas. This action was taken following repeated court orders prohibiting non-forest use on land classified as ‘gair mumkin pahad’ (uncultivable hill). The Raisina region…

IndustryLatest Stories

Goa: Town Planning Halts Carambolim Housing Project After Protests

PANAJI: In response to local protests, the town and country planning department issued a show cause notice and stop work order to the Carambolim panchayat on Tuesday. This halts construction of a large housing project that includes residential flats, commercial shops, a swimming pool, and a boundary wall until further notice, as reported by Lisa Monteiro. The department’s notice indicated that during a joint inspection on Monday, villagers raised concerns about the proximity of the proposed building to the existing crematorium, stating it did not comply with regulations. Villagers also highlighted that the planned access roads of 15m and 10m…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Hyderabad: ED Files Supplementary Complaint in Sahiti Case

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted a supplementary prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against key figures involved in the Sahiti Infratec Ventures India Pvt Ltd (SIVIPL) fraud case. This complaint has been presented to the MSJ Court in Nampally, which acknowledged it on Monday. According to the ED, the complaint targets B Lakshminarayana, a former director, and S Purnachandra Rao, the marketing head of SIVIPL. Following an FIR filed by the Telangana police, the ED initiated a money-laundering investigation. The FIR claimed that SIVIPL and its promoters promoted a ‘pre-launch…

IndustryLatest Stories

Gurugram: Strict Checks on Building Code Violations in DLF 1-5

GURUGRAM: Following the directives of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has initiated a thorough verification drive to investigate discrepancies in sanctioned building plans and occupation certificates within licensed plotted colonies across DLF phases 1 to 5. Official records indicate that a meeting took place on January 5, chaired by the district town planner (enforcement) to assess progress on the High Court’s order from November 26. This meeting followed the establishment of multiple inspection teams by the senior town planner in an official directive issued in December. In compliance with the court’s…

IndustryLatest Stories

Bengaluru Body Shifts to Apartment Projects for Land Efficiency

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is shifting its focus towards apartment developments over large plotted layouts, emphasizing enhanced land-use efficiency in urban areas. This shift raises concerns about the future of the BDA’s traditional housing model centered around plots. According to officials, projects comprising apartments facilitate quicker housing delivery and prevent land fragmentation. “While discussions are ongoing and we don’t anticipate an abrupt change, there will be a noticeable trend towards apartments for more efficient land use. Basic housing needs should not always mean a 30×40 plot. We are conscious of the demand for plots, but our priority remains…