NEW DELHI: A protracted legal battle has culminated in a significant decision by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Disha Choudhury, the Managing Director of Bengaluru-based real estate company Dreamz Infra India Ltd. This action stems from the company’s persistent failure to fulfill its obligations, including delayed construction of a housing project by over a decade and a refusal to refund homebuyers’ money as previously ordered.
The NCDRC bench, comprising Justice Inderjit Singh and Sadhna Shanker, took this drastic step after Choudhury repeatedly failed to comply with prior commission directives, including a bailable warrant, to appear before them. The order was a direct response to a plea from frustrated homebuyers, represented by advocate Chandrachur Bhattacharya, seeking the enforcement of the commission’s 2022 refund order, which had also been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Thousands of individuals who invested in Dreamz Infra India’s housing projects in Bengaluru back in 2012 were promised possession by 2014. Yet, a staggering 11 years beyond the agreed deadline, these buyers are still awaiting their homes. The NCDRC had initially instructed the company in 2022 to either complete construction and hand over possession along with a 9% per annum delay interest, or refund the entire sum.
Earlier in April, the NCDRC had issued bailable arrest warrants for Choudhury, stipulating her release upon a personal bail bond of ₹10 lakhs and a surety of a similar amount. However, the city police subsequently informed the commission that they were unable to locate her to execute these warrants, leaving the commission with no recourse but to issue a direct arrest order to ensure justice for the affected homebuyers.
