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SC affirms right to shelter, offers relief to homebuyers

The Supreme Court has declared that the right to shelter is a fundamental right, emphasizing the state’s duty to protect homebuyers. During the disposal of four appeals on September 12, the Court noted that the right to housing goes beyond contractual obligation, being an essential part of the right to life under Article 21. “Genuine homebuyers form the backbone of India’s urban landscape. Their protection aligns with both constitutional duty and economic policy. The Court aims to restore trust in the regulatory and insolvency frameworks, prevent speculative misuse, and ensure the dream home of India’s citizens doesn’t become a lifelong…

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Rajkot: FIR Against Builder for Selling Encumbered Flats

RAJKOT: Hetal Tilala, a 40-year-old schoolteacher, has lodged a complaint with the Rajkot Taluka police against property developer Viren Sindhav, alleging fraud. Tilala purchased a flat in Shivay Apartments from Sindhav in 2018, allowing her brother-in-law Kishan to reside there. On May 26, 2020, Sindhav executed a registered sale deed for the flat, asserting it was free from any encumbrances. On May 12, 2025, Kishan informed Tilala that a legal notice addressed to her was issued by a law firm representing Mandavrayji Credit Co-operative Society Ltd. The notice stated that Sindhav had taken a ₹5 crore cash credit loan at…

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HC Denies Relief to Ansal Properties; HRERA Penalties Stand

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has determined that the interim penalty orders issued by the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA) against Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd are appropriate and should not be challenged under writ jurisdiction. The court affirmed that the penalties were legitimately imposed under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) for statutory non-compliance. Despite undergoing insolvency proceedings, the company must ensure adherence through its resolution professional. The High Court clarified that the petitioner has the alternative option of appealing to the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal under Section 43(5) of the RERA Act,…

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SC directs states and UTs to enhance real estate agencies

BHUBANESWAR: The Supreme Court has issued important directives to enhance the functionality of real estate regulatory authorities throughout India, including the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA). The ruling in the case of Mansi Brar Fernandes vs Shubha Sharma and others, delivered on September 12, requires states and Union Territories to implement thorough measures to empower RERA bodies to effectively manage the sector. The SC’s directive underscores the necessity for adequate staffing and infrastructure within RERA authorities. Every RERA must include at least one member who possesses legal expertise or experience as a consumer advocate in real estate. This aims…

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Developer, 7 Others Arrested for Selling Mortgaged Flats

PUNE: The Dehu Road police have filed a case against a developer from Malinagar in Dehu and seven accomplices, accused of defrauding eight homebuyers of ₹1.84 crore by selling flats that were already mortgaged to a credit society. A complaint was lodged by one of the flat owners with the Dehu Road police against the developer and his associates. An officer stated that the complainant and seven others purchased flats within the housing complex in Malinagar between 2021 and 2023. The scam was uncovered in May 2025 when other residents alerted the complainant that the developer had secured a loan…

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Bombay HC: Court Overstepped, Returns 16-Acre Plot to Builder

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has reinstated a ruling from a Borivli metropolitan magistrate indicating that a developer had possession of a plot exceeding 16 acres near the Dahisar checkpost as of April 22, 2017. On Tuesday, Justice Amit Borkar nullified a decision by the Dindoshi sessions court and directed the court receiver to return possession of the land to Romell Housing and its associate, Jude Romell, “strictly in accordance” with the magistrate’s directive. Romell alleged police misconduct after purchasing the property in 2016 from its previous owners, having compensated Kamruddin Shaikh, who held possession of the land. Following the…

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SC Bars Supertech Realtors from Third-Party Rights in Supernova

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has barred Supertech Realtors and its suspended director from establishing any third-party rights in the ‘Supernova’ project in Noida. Supertech Realtors, a subsidiary of Supertech Ltd, is mired in insolvency proceedings and is working on a mixed-use real estate development named ‘Supernova’. This project includes residential units, commercial space, office areas, studio and service apartments, and shopping centers situated in Sector 94 of Noida. The project is intended to be a towering structure with 80 floors, designed to be the tallest building in the Delhi-NCR region at 300 meters high. A bench comprising Justices Surya…

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Builder booked for ₹16.49 crore fraud in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Yash Builders has been charged with cheating and criminal breach of trust after Axis Bank filed a complaint against its proprietor, Paras Dedhia. The complaint arises from a ₹16.49 crore term loan provided for the Deonar project, Yash Signature. As outlined by Shri Dakshis Sumanbhai Balsara, Assistant Vice President at Axis Bank’s Nariman Point branch, Dedhia initially secured a ₹15 crore loan from IIFL in 2015, using 18 flats and an office at Yash Signature as collateral. He then sought a ₹20 crore term loan from Axis Bank’s Chembur branch to settle IIFL’s dues and finish the project. The…

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Ex-Lodha Developers Director Arrested in Fraud Case

Here’s a rewritten version of the content: MUMBAI: Mumbai Police announced the arrest of a former director from a leading real estate firm on Wednesday for allegedly abusing his official role to defraud the company of ₹85 crore. The accused, Rajendra Lodha, served as a director at Lodha Developers Ltd from September 2013 until his resignation on August 18, 2025, which followed an ethics committee review of his conduct. The complaint alleges that Lodha exploited his position to deceive the company. The fraud allegations emerged during the investigation of a case reported at the NM Joshi Marg police station, according…

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Delhi HC: MCD’s higher luxury hotel tax not arbitrary

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has stated that the increase in property tax rates for luxury hotels imposed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi cannot be considered “arbitrary or capricious,” especially when viewed in the context of their target clientele’s economic background. The court explained that luxury hotels actively pursue star ratings, positioning themselves within a niche aimed at affluent customers while providing premium experiences at high prices. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, delivering the judgment on September 12 (published on the court’s website on September 16), noted, “The legislative intent behind the higher property tax rates for these establishments…