NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has sought responses from Haryana govt and Mahira Buildwell (formerly Czar Buildwell) after an association of homebuyers from economically weaker sections accused the developer of an affordable housing scheme in Gurgaon, under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), of cheating them.Accusing Czar Buildwell and its successor Mahira of obtaining a licence through fraudulent means, including submission of forged bank guarantees and fabrication of signatures, the petitioner association said the builder has carried out only 5-7% of the construction work, siphoning homebuyers’ funds.Petitioner: Lack of due diligence by authorities caused hardships, stressSC is already dealing with a large number of cases in which builders, in collusion with financial institutions and banks, have duped homebuyers by misusing the subvention scheme. It has ordered a CBI probe into these cases, leading to registration of 28 FIRs against builders.The bench led by CJI Surya Kant also sought responses from Haryana RERA, Enforcement Directorate, Axis Bank and Canara Bank. The petitioner association alleged that its members had paid a substantial amount to the developer for a standardised dwelling unit. It said, “Due to the failure of competent authorities to carry out due diligence and the lackadaisical attitude towards enforcing statutory schemes, the members/allottees had to face substantial hardships and financial and mental stress. Despite recurring and periodical collection of funds by the developer from the allottees, the developer has failed to carry out time-linked construction, as mandated in the scheme.”“Despite multiple complaints, representations, and even contempt proceedings, the respondent authorities, including the Centre, Haryana, director of town and country Planning, HARERA and banking institutions have failed to take remedial action,” it said.
