The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has begun the restitution process for 78 flats, valued at over Rs 200 million, to homebuyers who were allegedly defrauded by the SRS Group. This move follows an order from the Appellate Tribunal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on August 12, which allowed the ED to return these flats from the SRS Pearl, SRS City, and SRS Prime projects to their rightful owners.

In January 2020, the ED had provisionally attached assets worth Rs 22.15 billion from the SRS Group in connection with a money laundering investigation. The case involved allegations that the SRS Group received payments for residential units but failed to transfer ownership to the buyers.

The attached properties were initially registered in the SRS Group's name, and the attachment was partially confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority of the PMLA. The ED challenged this decision, and the case was later reviewed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court. These courts directed the ED to verify the legitimacy of the claimants to ensure the restitution of flats.

Following a comprehensive verification process, the ED has issued no objection certificates (NOCs) for the registration of these flats to the genuine buyers. Verification for other buyers from SRS Group projects who have yet to receive possession is ongoing.

Recently, a similar restitution order was made by a Kolkata-based PMLA court for Rs 120 million in a Ponzi fraud case involving the Rose Valley group. The ED has also previously restituted over Rs 150 billion to public sector banks in cases involving Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.

Under Section 8(8) of the PMLA, if properties are confiscated by the central government, special or higher courts can direct the return of these properties to legitimate claimants who have suffered a quantifiable loss due to money laundering offenses. (ET)