CBI registers FIR against Ambience Mall developer, Haryana officials

CHANDIGARH: On the orders of Punjab and Haryana high court, the CBI has registered a first information report (FIR) against chairman and managing director of Ambience Developers, Raj Singh Gehlot, his two companies, unknown officials of Haryana Town and Country Planning and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and some private persons.

CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said, “The case is related to alleged illegal construction of swanky commercial building at approximately 18.98 acres of land in Gurugram by blatantly flouting the building bylaws and statutory provisions in collusion with others.”

Searches were carried out at Gehlot’s residence in Delhi’s Hauz Khas, company’s office at Green Park, HUDA office in Panchkula and TCP office in Sector 18, Chandigarh. A spokesperson for the Ambience Group refused to comment. As per the FIR registered on August 5, the central agency has booked the officials for abusing their official positions as public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The other accused and officials have also been booked for cheating, forgery for the purpose of cheating, forgery of valuable security, using as genuine a forged document under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Gehlot had said on July 11 that they were exploring legal options in the matter. “We will approach the higher court to seek relief in this matter,” he had said.

The high court in its July 8 order had also quashed the October 18, 2001 de-licensing orders, Oct 16, 2001 orders to grant permission to build a commercial complex and September 1, 2010 orders for taking out another 3.9 acre out of the residential area to build another commercial complex.

“The probability of connivance between the builder and the town and country planning (TCP) department cannot be ruled out in view of de-licensing of area meant for residential purposes and allocating the same to commercial projects,’’ a division bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh had said.

The HC had ordered that officers chosen by the CBI Director within six weeks would investigate the entire issue after registering a formal FIR, efforts be made to complete the investigation within six months and a status report be submitted in sealed cover within three months.

PROBE AGENCY ALSO CONDUCTS SEARCHES AT 4 LOCATIONS, INCLUDING PANCHKULA AND CHANDIGARH