Overview

• The division bench of Justices Ravindra V. Ghuge and Gautam A. Ankhad dismissed the plea on Wednesday and declined to grant a stay on its order.
• The court found the petitioners were not bona fide purchasers, holding that bank statements and bill payments do not confer ownership without a registered instrument.
• The properties were seized under SAFEMA with a forfeiture order dated September 28, 1993, and earlier challenges failed before the appellate tribunal in 1999 and the High Court in 2005.
• The competent authority and the CBI opposed the plea, and the court noted that litigants who suppress material facts cannot seek relief.
• Administrative steps are already underway, with SAFEMA directing handover by August 2, 2025, after a TADA court in March lifted attachment and released properties to the central government.