A special court in Mumbai has accepted the closure report filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in a long-pending case against renowned builder Niranjan Hiranandani and others. The case involved allegations of misuse of land in Powai, originally allotted under the Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS) for affordable housing, which was allegedly diverted for luxury housing projects. The land was developed by Lake View Developers, a Hiranandani Group entity, in collaboration with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), under a Tripartite Agreement signed in 1986.
Activists Allegations Dismissed as Courts Clear Hiranandani in Powai Land Case
Activists, including Santosh Daundkar, had claimed that the land misuse caused a public loss of ₹30,000 crores. In 2012, the ACB registered an FIR following a court directive. The complaint named Hiranandani, former Urban Development Secretary Thomas Benjamin, and unidentified officials from MMRDA and BMC. Daundkar also sought investigation by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.
The ACB initially filed an “A summary” report in 2013, citing lack of evidence, but this was rejected by the court in 2018. A re-investigation followed, leading to a closure report in 2019, which was again challenged by Daundkar. Meanwhile, between 2008 and 2010, three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed, including one by activist Medha Patkar, questioning the developments in the PADS area. In 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed these PILs, stating that construction and handover obligations were met and confirmed by a court-appointed committee.
Special Court Clears Hiranandani, Cites Lack of Evidence and High Court Findings
Citing the PIL outcomes and judicial findings, the special court said there was no evidence of corruption, criminal conspiracy, or violation of the Tripartite Agreement. It concluded that the ACB’s investigation was thorough and supported by the High Court’s examination of key issues, including flat amalgamation and sales. The ACB also found no unlawful actions by government officers or the developer, thus closing the case.
Summary:
A Mumbai special court accepted the ACB’s closure report in a decades-old case against builder Niranjan Hiranandani over alleged misuse of Powai land meant for affordable housing. Citing lack of evidence, judicial findings, and PIL outcomes, the court ruled out corruption, conspiracy, or violations by Hiranandani or government officials.
