Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 16-07-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: Baby Ritika & Ors., home‑buyers alleging large‑scale real estate fraud by M/s Agrani Homes Private Limited and its group entities.
  • Respondents: Union of India & Ors., including investigative agencies CBI, Directorate of Enforcement and Economic Offences Unit.
  • Petition filed under Article 32 seeking multiple writs: (a) mandamus for a fair, impartial, court‑monitored investigation; (b) tracing and disclosure of all movable and immovable assets, bank accounts and financial instruments; (c) attachment and freezing of proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002; (d) recovery and restitution of monies siphoned from home‑buyers through a transparent mechanism supervised by the Court; (e) enforcement of orders passed by RERA and the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal; (f) expansion of investigation to all directors, officers, family members and associated entities of the Agrani Homes Group with custodial interrogation where necessary; (g) measures to secure presence and cooperation of accused persons, including surrender of passports and travel restrictions; (h) appointment of a Court‑monitored Special Investigation Team or equivalent mechanism; (i) periodic status reports to the Court on investigation progress, asset identification, attachment and restitution; (j) declaration that failure to conduct a comprehensive investigation violates fundamental rights under Articles 14, 21 and 300A; (k) any further directions including award of costs.
  • Counsel for petitioners presented these reliefs; the Court examined their appropriateness.

Final Outcome

  • The Court held that the same reliefs could be sought by filing a writ petition before the territorial High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.
  • Petitioners were permitted to withdraw the present Supreme Court petition with liberty to file the writ in the appropriate High Court.
  • The petition and any pending applications were disposed of.

Topics: Real Estate Fraud, Judicial Procedure