3-yr jail for Unitech Chairman, 2 MDs

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17

Not obeying the orders of the UT State Consumer Commission is proving costly for builders as in yet another case, the commission awarded three-year jail term to Unitech Chairman Ramesh Chandra and two Managing Directors (MDs) — Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra — in two cases here yesterday.

The company and the convicts were also fined Rs 10,000 each in both cases. The commission, presided over by Justice Jasbir Singh (retd), issued non-bailable warrants against the convicts, returnable for March 6, for their arrest to undergo the sentence.

“....the Managing Director or Directors of the company can be proceeded against as they were in-charge of the management and in control of the affairs of the company. In view of the judgments referred to above, for non-compliance of orders, passed on the consumer complaints, which have attained finality, punishment under Section 27 of the Act can be awarded..,” said the order.

Complainants Amandeep Singh Kanwar and his wife Simmarpreet Randhawa, residents of Sector 22, were attracted by many tall promises by them and they had purchased a plot in the project of the opposite parties, known as “Aspen Greens”, Sector 107, Uniworld, Mohali. On March 17, 2011, they were allotted a plot for a total sale consideration of Rs 71,60,160.

They were promised possession of the unit within a period of 18 months and had paid Rs 66,53,109. Requests were made, but neither the possession of the plot was given nor the penalty amount for the delay paid.

The duo approached the commission, which directed Unitech  to refund the paid amount along with interest at the rate of 15 per cent and Rs 3.50 lakh as compensation and the litigation cost. Similar was the case of the other complainant, Sanjeev Dhir, a native of Fatehgarh Sahib. However, in both cases, the realty firm did not implement the directions, thus they filed execution petitions.