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Bombay HC urges Thane civic body to act on illegal structures

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has instructed the Thane municipal commissioner to engage with senior officials from electricity supply companies to identify power connections provided to illegal constructions. The court also called for an investigation into civic officers who enable water supply to these unauthorized edifices. Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor remarked that providing electricity to illegal buildings represents a “national loss” while noting that granting water to such constructions significantly exacerbates the public’s struggles during water scarcity. The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) reported compliance with earlier court orders, resulting in the demolition of 21 illegal structures using “sophisticated…

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ED Apprehends Fugitives Linked to Universal Buildwell

CHANDIGARH: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) from the Gurugram Zonal Office announced the arrest of Raman Puri, Varun Puri, and Vikram Puri—former directors and promoters of Universal Buildwell Pvt Ltd—under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for involvement in alleged real estate fraud. The trio, who were on the run for over seven years and declared proclaimed offenders by multiple courts, were arrested by the Delhi Police. The special PMLA court in Gurugram ordered the trio to be held in ED custody until July 29. The investigation was initiated after more than 30 FIRs were filed against Universal Buildwell Pvt…

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Delhi HC requests government response on alleged illegal construction

NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court requested responses from the Delhi government, MCD, and DDA regarding a petition calling for a ban on unauthorized constructions in various parts of the national capital, particularly Jaitpur extension and Badarpur. A bench headed by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued a notice to the respondents, instructing them to provide a response by July 30. The court was reviewing claims that illegal constructions were responsible for accidents, including building collapses, and endangering local lives. The petition asserted that unauthorized constructions in Jaitpur extension-II had obstructed residents from…

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ED Takes Custody of Two Ramprastha Group Directors in ₹1,100 Crore Fraud

Representative image created by AI GURUGRAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has secured a two-day custody of Sandeep Yadav and Arvind Walia, the promoters of the Haryana-based Ramprastha Group, as part of a money laundering investigation tied to an alleged ₹1,100 crore fraud involving homebuyers. The arrests occurred on Monday following raids at three locations in Delhi and Gurugram, including the residences of the directors, conducted by the ED’s Gurugram zonal office. Yadav and Walia are directors and major shareholders of Ramprastha Promoters and Developers Pvt Ltd (RPDPL). They were detained under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The federal…

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SC Approves CBI to Register 22 Cases in NCR Builders-Banks Nexus

NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court permitted the CBI to file 22 cases regarding the “unholy nexus” between banks and developers accused of deceiving homebuyers in the NCR. A bench led by Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh authorized the CBI to transition six preliminary inquiries against various builders and banks into 22 formal cases, similar to FIRs, for further investigation. Entities under scrutiny include builders in NCR and development authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. According to the subvention scheme, banks disburse approved amounts directly to builders, who must pay EMIs on these loans until they deliver…

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SC Raises Concerns About Gurugram Court’s Cheque Bounce Cases

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court expressed concerns regarding coercive actions taken by a Gurugram trial court against homebuyers, indicating it will review the situation based on substantial information it has. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh directed the district and sessions judge in Gurugram to investigate the issuance of bailable and non-bailable warrants related to cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instrument Act aimed at recovering money from homebuyers. “We are receiving numerous reports regarding the Gurugram trial court’s conduct. We will investigate and determine appropriate actions,” noted the bench. This directive was given during the…

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Punjab Cabinet Greenlights Changes to Land Pooling Policy

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet has approved revisions to its land pooling policy, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticizing opposition parties for what he calls misinformation about the scheme. Mann refuted claims from the opposition that the policy would “rob” farmers of their land, asserting that the agricultural community is supportive of the initiative. Last month, the Punjab Cabinet endorsed this land pooling policy, ensuring that no land will be forcibly acquired from owners. After a Cabinet meeting, Mann stated that the opposition’s assertion that land registries will cease once a notification is issued is unfounded. He explained that if an…

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Final Warning Issued to 60 Sushant Lok Homes in Gurugram

GURUGRAM: More than a month after receiving no responses from property owners regarding its notices, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), led by District Town Planner Amit Madholia, has intensified enforcement efforts in Sushant Lok 2. Restoration orders have now been issued for over 60 residential properties due to violations of building codes and unauthorized commercial activities. These restoration orders serve as the final warning—failure to comply could result in “sealing, demolition, or even cancellation of occupation certificates.” Amit Madholia stated, “This action is being conducted in strict accordance with planning regulations. Property owners who have violated residential…

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SC Approves Adani Cementation’s Removal of 158 Mangrove Trees

(Representative Image) The Supreme Court has upheld the Bombay High Court’s decision allowing Adani Cementation to remove 158 mangrove trees for the construction of a jetty project along the Amba River in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. This project, which occupies an area of 1.26 hectares within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) designated for mangrove forests, is intended to facilitate the transportation of cement and other materials via waterways, alongside a conveyor corridor and access road to support a cement grinding and fly ash processing unit and a backup storage unit in Shahapur and Shahabaz. It aims to meet the increasing cement…

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ED Arrests Two Directors of Ramprastha Group

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate arrested Sandeep Yadav and Arvind Walia, promoters of Haryana’s Ramprastha Group, on Monday as part of a money laundering probe linked to an alleged ₹1,100 crore fraud involving homebuyers, according to official sources. The arrests followed early morning raids at three locations in Delhi and Gurugram, including those of the directors, conducted by the federal agency’s Gurugram zonal office. The duo serves as directors and majority shareholders of Ramprastha Promoters and Developers Pvt. Ltd. (RPDPL). They have been taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Attempts to reach the company or…