Supreme Court clears way for ED probe in Amrapali group case

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday cleared the decks for a probe by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police in the alleged money laundering by Amrapali group directors, when it asked the special forensic auditors of the firm to share a copy of their report with both ED and EOW.

A two-judge Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit also asked the report to be given to Institute of Chartered Accountants so that it could take appropriate action against the firm auditors for their role in siphoning off over Rs 3,000 crore of homebuyers’ money.

The apex court has also directed its registry to release around Rs 7 crore to National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) so that it could start work on the stalled projects of the debt-laden real estate group. A nodal cell, comprising officials from Noida and Greater Noida authorities, will also be set up for issuing completion certificate to homebuyers, the apex court said.

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One official each, not below the rank of deputy general manager, from both the authorities, shall be deputed to co-ordinate on the affairs of the Amrapali group, with the court-appointed receiver, Senior Advocate R Venkataramani. The SC will next hear the matter on September 11.

On July 23, the apex court, had cancelled the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act registration of Amrapali group companies for defrauding homebuyers, diverting their money and failing to complete projects on time. At the time, the two-judge Bench had also asked Noida and Greater Noida Authorities “to execute the tripartite agreement within one month concerning the projects where homebuyers are residing and issue completion certificate”.

The court had slammed the banks and authorities, saying while the Amrapali group had diverted funds meant for the projects, the officials had “acted as a mute spectator”.

During the last hearing on August 12, the SC had warned officials from Noida and Greater Noida that they should immediately start registration of the homebuyers of Amrapali group projects, failing which the officers could be sent to jail.