Supreme Court Quashes CBI Probe Order in Gurugram’s Ambience Island Case

• Top court overturns High Court directive for CBI investigation

• NGT proceedings kept on hold until related case is decided

• Relief for residents and tenants amid years of legal uncertainty

New Delhi: In a major development in the long-pending Ambience Island dispute, the Supreme Court of India has set aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment that had ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Gurugram-based project.

A Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Sandeep Mehta ruled that the High Court’s decision directing a CBI-led investigation could not be sustained. The apex court’s ruling effectively brings closure to questions raised over the legality of the Ambience Island project, while clarifying that other connected matters pending before the High Court will continue independently.

The dispute relates to the construction of Ambience Mall and other commercial structures on nearly 19 acres of land in Nathupur village along the Delhi–Jaipur National Highway in Gurugram. Allegations had been raised that land originally licensed for residential use was later utilised for commercial development.

In its July 10, 2020 order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had set aside the delicensing and relicensing approvals granted by Haryana’s Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) for Ambience Commercial Tower II. The High Court had also directed the State to take consequential action and ordered a CBI probe, prompting the Ambience Group to move the Supreme Court.

While setting aside the High Court judgment, the Supreme Court also directed that proceedings pending before the National Green Tribunal will remain in abeyance. This stay will continue until the High Court decides another writ petition filed by certain homebuyers, without being influenced by any observations made by the apex court.

The ruling offers significant relief to residents and tenants of Ambience Island, many of whom had been facing prolonged uncertainty due to overlapping legal proceedings. The court’s clarification is expected to restore confidence among families lawfully residing in the luxury condominium complex.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had also stayed the operation of an NGT order imposing environmental compensation of ₹10 crore on the developer for alleged construction in a green area.

Ambience Island is positioned as a premium residential development with high-end amenities, and legal experts say the judgment provides stability to the project while ensuring that other pending issues are examined strictly on their own merits.

The Ambience Group and its promoter Raj Singh Gehlot were represented by senior advocates including Mukul Rohatgi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Pinaki Misra and Sanjeev Ralli. The State of Haryana was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, while homebuyers were represented by senior advocates including Kamini Jaiswal and Uttara Babbar.