Haryana government may seek review of HC judgment in Ambience Mall case

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government may file a petition before the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking a review of the order passed by a division bench of the high court on July 10 ordering CBI probe into the “illegal” conversion of a portion of almost 19 acres meant for Ambience Lagoon Island Residential Complex in Gurugram into a commercial complex in violation of the law.

Sources confirmed that the office of Haryana advocate general (AG) has already given its opinion suggesting filing a review petition in the July 10 order and a final decision is to be taken by the state government.

“There are some apparent errors in the judgment, wherein the court has mentioned not to touch upon the legality of some notifications but at the same time, the HC has ordered an inquiry in those aspects. We have suggested filing a review petition against some of the inconsistencies in the order,” Baldev Raj Mahajan, advocate general of Haryana confirmed to TOI.

He added that the legal opinion suggesting filing review petition in the case has been sent to the Haryana’s town and country planning department, which has to take a final decision.

The main allegations in this case are that the builder had illegally developed the Ambience Mall and other commercial buildings on land originally meant for developing a residential area only.

On July 10, the HC had directed CBI to register an FIR and investigate the matter within a period of six months. Referring the matter to CBI, the HC had observed that a separate investigation is necessary by an independent agency to probe illegal actions and offence, if any made out and possible collusion between the builder and state authorities.

The HC had also quashed the order through which a portion of the residential complex was de-licenced for commercial purpose. With these orders, the Ambience mall as well as other commercial buildings that were constructed by the builder on the land had been rendered illegal.

On August 10, the CBI had registered a case in the matter against Raj Singh Gehlot, a resident of Green Park Extension, New Delhi; M/s Ambience Ltd; M/s Ambience Developers and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd; unknown officials of HSVP, town and country planning department of Haryana and other unknown private persons.

The CBI also conducted searches at four locations, including Delhi, Panchkula and Chandigarh at the premises of the accused and others, in relation to the case. The matter is still under investigation by the agency.