Hiranandani case: Court accepts closure report

It was alleged that the developer had used 233 acres earmarked for budget housing to build luxury flats

- Revu Suresh

MUMBAI: The curtain has come down on the legal battle over alleged corruption in the development of Hiranandani Gardens, the landmark township built by Lake View Developers of the Hiranandani Group in Powai. The case revolved around the allegation that the developer had used 233 acres of government land earmarked for affordable housing to build luxury apartments and sold them at a premium.

A special court trying cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Monday accepted the second closure report submitted by the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which stated that there was no criminality involved in the implementation of the Powai Area Development Scheme (PADS), also called 'Hiranandani Gardens'.

The verdict brings relief to developer Niranjan Hiranandani, former urban development department secretary TC Benjamin and others who were named as accused in the case.

"In my opinion, this is not a fit case to proceed against the accused persons and I am inclined to accept the closure report for the reasons mentioned herein above," said Judge Shashikant Bangar of the special court while accepting the second closure report filed by the ACB.