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Ansal API probe report submitted, UP government to decide on LDA takeover

The committee, comprising senior officials from the LDA and other government departments, held a meeting with state government officials before submitting its findings. The report is expected to form the basis for administrative and legal action against the developer and determine the future of hundreds of homebuyers awaiting possession.

Published on: Jul 11, 2026, 08:41:36 IST
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The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) on Friday submitted the final report of the state government-appointed committee investigating alleged irregularities in the Ansal API township at Sushant Golf City, paving the way for the Uttar Pradesh government to take a final call on the future of the long-delayed project and a possible LDA takeover.

The report is expected to form the basis for administrative and legal action against the developer and determine the future of hundreds of homebuyers awaiting possession. (For representation (Sourced))
The report is expected to form the basis for administrative and legal action against the developer and determine the future of hundreds of homebuyers awaiting possession. (For representation (Sourced))

The committee, comprising senior officials from the LDA and other government departments, held a meeting with state government officials before submitting its findings. The report is expected to form the basis for administrative and legal action against the developer and determine the future of hundreds of homebuyers awaiting possession.

An LDA senior official said that the committee members had signed the final report.

According to LDA officials, the committee carried out a comprehensive investigation into allegations of unauthorised sale of mortgaged land, illegal sale of plots, forged registries, incomplete development works and failure to provide basic civic infrastructure across several sectors of the township.

Officials said the panel conducted an extensive field survey and scrutinised relevant records before finalising its recommendations. During the inquiry, it also consulted the district administration, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), LDA and other departments to assess the status of development works, land ownership records and pending disputes.

If approved by the state government, the LDA is expected to take over execution of pending infrastructure works, including roads, drainage, water supply and street lighting, while simultaneously addressing complaints of forged registries and long-pending possession disputes.

The committee was constituted after the LDA lodged an FIR against Ansal API in March 2025 in an alleged multi-crore land fraud case. Following the FIR, hundreds of homebuyers also approached police, accusing the developer of fraud, forged registries and failure to hand over possession despite receiving payments.

Earlier in March 2025, the LDA filed a 4,500-crore claim before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), seeking recovery of acquisition charges, map approval fees and other statutory dues. The authority alleged that Ansal API had illegally sold 411 acres of land mortgaged to the LDA as a performance guarantee under the Hi-Tech Township Policy. According to the LDA, the alleged unauthorised sale significantly complicated the project and undermined safeguards meant to ensure completion of the township.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Animesh Mishra

Animesh Mishra is a Correspondent with Hindustan Times, based in Lucknow, where he covers urban governance, civic administration, and infrastructure development in Uttar Pradesh's capital. His reporting spans key institutions, including the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), the Uttar Pradesh Excise Department, and the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board (Awas Vikas Parishad). Through his coverage, he closely tracks policy decisions, urban planning initiatives, housing projects, municipal governance, and infrastructure development, while delivering exclusive reports on issues that shape the city's growth and administration. Driven by a commitment to public-interest journalism, his work combines on-the-ground reporting with careful analysis to explain the impact of government policies and administrative decisions on residents. He has a particular interest in investigative journalism, off-beat stories, and human-interest features that bring attention to underreported issues and amplify the voices of ordinary citizens. Known for his fact-based and reader-focused approach, Animesh strives to present complex governance and development issues in a clear and accessible manner. His reporting seeks to promote accountability, encourage informed public discourse, and provide readers with meaningful insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping Lucknow's rapidly evolving urban landscape.

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