FIR against Ansal Group for ‘irregularities’ in hi-tech township project in Lucknow

The group is accused of conspiring to defraud the public and the government by selling land illegally, misappropriating public property and engaging in organised crime. It also engaged in misconduct, threatening government officials and failing to comply with directives issued by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and other agencies, it is alleged.

The case was filed at the Gomti Nagar police station on charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating, attempt to breach peace, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and organised crime.

The provisions under the Prevention of Damage to Property Act were also invoked in the FIR, officials said.

No one was arrested till the filing of the report.

Despite multiple warnings, the company continues illegal activities, often filing false FIRs against those raising objections, it is alleged.

The complainant in the case, Arpit Sharma of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), stated that the alleged crime occurred between May 21, 2005 and August 6, 2024.
According to the police, under the government’s Hi-Tech Township Policy, Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd. was selected for developing a 1,765-acre hi-tech township on the Lucknow-Sultanpur Road through a government order issued on May 21, 2005. The detailed project report (DPR) for this was approved on May 22, 2006.
The project’s area was later expanded to 3,530 acres with approval on June 3, 2009. A further expansion of 2,935 acres was sanctioned on December 13, 2013, increasing the total township area to 6,465 acres, with the DPR approved on May 23, 2015.
As per the approved plan, development agreements were sanctioned with a project completion deadline of March 13, 2017. To ensure completion, the company mortgaged 411 acres of land to the LDA as a performance guarantee through registered mortgage deeds. However, it was alleged that despite multiple directives to install public notices regarding the mortgaged land, the company failed to comply. Instead, the promoters are accused of fraudulently selling the mortgaged land to third parties using forged sale deeds, the complainant alleged.
Furthermore, the company incorporated government-owned land, ponds, roads, barren land and canal land within the township. However, despite policy requirements to acquire or regularize these lands, the company failed to meet its obligations, the police said.

The group unlawfully occupied and sold plots without obtaining lease deeds or making necessary payments, it has been alleged. Additionally, in collusion with the company, consortium members illegally sold land that had been approved for layout plans by the LDA.
It also said at least 2,268 complaints were filed with the RERA against Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd, with outstanding refund claims exceeding Rs 235 crore. However, only Rs 118 crore was paid so far.