Rs 200-Cr Mall Scam: Delhi High Court Slams Authorities Over Undue Delay In Probe

(News Agency)- The Delhi High Court has strongly criticised the sanctioning authority for its failure to provide the necessary sanctions for the registration of a first information report (FIR) against public officials implicated in a scam involving the illegal commercial exploitation of a mall property.
The high-ranking officials were involved in a Rs 200-crore scam relating to the illegal commercial exploitation of a mall property originally leased to SS Con-Build Private Limited.A single-judge bench of the High Court, presided over by Justice Shalinder Kaur, expressed severe displeasure at the undue delay and directed the authority to provide a detailed explanation within six weeks.
The case involves the alleged continuation of commercial operations, despite the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) termination of the lease in January 2020 due to unpaid dues exceeding 200 crore rupees. This continuation allegedly occurred through forged documents, shell companies, and the complicity of various government officers.
During the hearing, the High Court noted the Anti-Corruption Branch’s submissions that, despite repeated communications, the competent authority had not granted the required sanction to proceed against key public officials.
“Such delays not only impede the course of justice but also raise serious questions about institutional accountability and undermine public trust and frustrate the objective of an independent investigation," the bench said.Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa, Advocate Gaurav Gupta, and Advocate Thakur Ankit Singh appeared for the petitioner. The matter is now listed for further hearing in August.