Emaar Seeks Resolution of Legal Disputes in Telangana
Emaar Properties, a real estate company from Dubai, has asked the Telangana government to resolve long-standing legal disputes related to its projects. Representatives from Emaar met with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu at the Secretariat to discuss these issues.
Emaar’s Investment in Hyderabad
In 2001, during the time of united Andhra Pradesh, Emaar signed agreements with the government to develop various projects in Hyderabad. These included a convention center, hotel, golf course, and villa developments. However, allegations of irregularities in agreements with the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) led to investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The legal cases are still ongoing.
Government’s Efforts to Resolve the Disputes
After Telangana was formed, the state government set up a five-member committee in October 2015, led by the Chief Secretary, to handle Emaar-related disputes. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Solicitor General of India also gave recommendations regarding the issue.
During the latest meeting, officials presented a detailed report to the Chief Minister. This report included information on investigations, charge sheets, legal matters, and recommendations from the central government. In response, Revanth Reddy instructed officials to conduct a thorough review of Emaar’s agreements and related legal documents.
Formation of a Legal Expert Committee
To speed up the resolution process, the Chief Minister suggested forming a new committee of legal experts in addition to the existing 2015 panel. He also agreed to Emaar’s request to appoint a legal agency, with approval from the UAE government, to study the legal disputes and help find a solution. The state government’s committee will work closely with Emaar representatives to find a way forward.
Key Participants in the Meeting
The meeting was attended by Emaar Properties’ founder and Managing Director, Mohammed Ali Rashid Alabbar, former UAE Ambassador to India Dr. Ahmad Al Banna, Emaar Group CEO Amit Jain, and Head of International Affairs Mustafa Akram.
On behalf of the Telangana government, Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari, Advocate General Sudarshan Reddy, Principal Secretary of Industries Jayesh Ranjan, and Principal Secretary of Finance Ramakrishna Rao, along with other senior officials, participated in the discussions.
With both sides eager to resolve the disputes, the Telangana government is expected to take further steps to review legal aspects and find a suitable resolution.
