SC seeks response of Amrapali group on plea of 700 home buyers

The Supreme Court today sought the response of real estate major Amrapali Group on a plea filed by around 700 home buyers who had booked their dream homes in its projects.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud issued the notice to the real estate company and said it has already restrained the firm's promoters from leaving the country without its permission.

"We have already restrained the promoters from leaving the country in other matter," the bench said when lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for home buyers, sought an interim order asking the company to deposit money to secure the interests of the hassled home buyers.

The home buyers have neither received possession of their flats, nor refund of the amount, the lawyer said.

The top court, on October 13, had issued the notice to the Amprapali group, its promoters and the Ministry of Finance on another petition filed by home buyers and asked the promoters not to leave the country without its nod.

The earlier plea, filed by Amrapali Silicon City Flat Owners Welfare Society, was filed against an order of the NCLT that admitted Bank of Baroda's insolvency petition against Amrapali's Silicon City project in Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

The apex court also directed that senior advocate Shekhar Naphade along with Advocate on Record Shubhangi Tuli will participate in the meetings of the Committee of Creditors under Section 21 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 to ensure the cause of the home buyers and protect their interests.