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The Lucknow Police have handed over most of the 293 FIRs filed against Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd (APIL) to the crime branch for detailed investigation. These cases, dating back nearly two decades, involve allegations of organised fraud, forgery, land encroachment, and selling mortgaged or disputed land. The Lucknow Development Authority has claimed dues of about INR 400 crore, while RERA has registered over 2,200 complaints, with refund demands crossing INR 235 crore. The transfer of cases is aimed at ensuring a fair and consolidated probe into one of Uttar Pradesh's biggest real estate controversies.
The crime branch in Lucknow has been assigned the responsibility of investigating the long-running cases against Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd (APIL) and its promoters. This decision was taken to ensure that the multiple cases, scattered across different police stations, are investigated more effectively under one authority. Advertisement
Out of the 293 FIRs registered, 244 have already been moved to the crime branch, with the remaining 49 expected to be transferred soon. The charges cover a wide range of serious allegations, including financial fraud, cheating, forgery of documents, land encroachment, and selling land that was already mortgaged or under dispute.
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has raised strong objections to APIL's actions, stating that the company not only sold mortgaged land but also encroached upon government-owned plots. The authority has estimated that the developer owes dues of around INR 400 crore. In several cases, homebuyers were given disputed plots, which has led to prolonged legal battles and delays in possession.
At the same time, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has received 2,268 complaints against APIL. These include refund claims that together exceed INR 235 crore, underlining the scale of financial loss faced by affected buyers. Many of these complaints point to incomplete projects and failure to deliver promised properties, leaving homebuyers uncertain about their investments.
Officials believe that bringing all cases under the crime branch will provide a clearer view of the company's operations over the last two decades. Investigators are expected to examine the full extent of irregularities and identify individuals who played a role in the alleged misconduct.
Earlier this year, additional FIRs were filed against APIL in districts such as Ghaziabad and Lucknow on charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and misuse of documents. These cases were lodged after directions from the state's chief minister. Separately, insolvency proceedings were initiated against the company when it defaulted on a loan of INR 257 crore from IL&FS Financial Services. The National Company Law Tribunal admitted the case under the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process.
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