HC gives interim relief to army veterans against builder

In an interim relief to around 70 armed forces veterans and war widows waiting for homes for the last 10 years, the Delhi High Court has said that the builder cannot alienate, sell or create any third party rights until a probe in the matter is completed.

Around 70 retired senior army officers, war veterans and war widows are fighting a legal battle against the Ireo Group of Companies after they failed to get their homes despite paying the builder. In total, 500 home buyers are looking for relief.

They formed Ireo Fiveriver Homebuyers Welfare Association and filed petitions in the Delhi High Court and complaints with the Economic Offence Wing of Delhi Police.

On February 7, Justice Navin Chawla ordered, "Keeping in view the serious nature of allegations made in the petition and submission made by the learned counsel... the private respondent companies are restrained from creating an third party interest or parting with the possession for their immovable properties till next date of hearing, except in compliance with an order passed by any statutory authority/investigative agency."

The matter has been listed for July 20, 2020. Colonel (retired) Sanjeev Dhawan told IANS, "There are more than 40 complaints filed with the Panchkula Police while 80 home buyers have filed complaint with the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) at Panchkula and Delhi."

The EOW in Delhi has refused to entertain the complaints following which the distressed buyers moved the court.

He said the High Court has passed an order for forensic audit of the company to be filed in four weeks and also sought a response from the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) on the matter.

The Ireo Fiveriver Project was located at Panchkula in Haryana. The builders projected it as a top-notch residential colony funded through FDI. The petitioners alleged that only five per cent construction has been done and the builder made away with all types of equipment in 2016 leaving the buyers in the lurch.

"Since the company had stopped all work at site, the project lay in ruins," the petitioners said.

The company, in the meantime, has knocked on the doors of the National Company Law Tribunal in Delhi for insolvency.-IANS