Supreme Court Halts CBI Probe into Gurugram's Ambience Mall Project, Stays ₹10 Crore Environmental Penalty
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The Supreme Court has set aside a 2020 Punjab and Haryana high court order directing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the construction of Ambience Mall in Gurugram. The court held that the high court's direction was 'unsustainable in law.' Although the CBI probe has been halted, proceedings related to other connected issues before the high court will continue. A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and Sandeep Mehta clarified that the Supreme Court's decision will not affect the ongoing proceedings in the high court. However, the court stayed the operation of orders passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposing an environmental compensation of ₹10 crore on the developer for alleged construction in a green area. The case revolves around the construction of Ambience Mall and other commercial structures on a 19-acre land in Nathupur village, originally licensed for a group housing project in the early 1990s. The land was later partly delicensed to permit commercial development, which was challenged by residents and buyers. The high court's July 2020 order had directed a CBI probe after concluding that the builder and government authorities appeared to have acted in collusion. The high court had quashed permissions, including the license for the commercial complex, and ordered the state to take consequential steps. It had also directed the CBI to complete its investigation within six months. The court had found serious statutory violations under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, and questioned the absence of a mandatory layout plan at the stage of grant of license. The Supreme Court's decision has left the door open for the green tribunal to revisit the environmental issues in light of the ruling. The dispute has long been a flashpoint between residents and the developer, with buyers alleging that land promised for open spaces and community facilities was diverted for commercial exploitation without disclosure or consent.
