Supreme Court directs ED, police to expedite Unitech directors case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued directives to accelerate legal proceedings against directors of the troubled real estate firm Unitech Ltd, emphasizing that trials must commence without indefinite delays. A two-judge bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan stated that while the law must take its natural course, no additional respite should be granted to the accused. The court announced plans to establish a dedicated bench to exclusively hear the cases.

During the proceedings, the justices raised critical questions about the disposition of funds collected from homebuyers, asking whether money had been transferred abroad and questioning the effectiveness of investigating agencies. "Law should be lucid," the bench observed, noting that confusion in legal processes was inadvertently benefitting the accused. The court expressed confidence in the investigative capabilities of specialized agencies to trace the missing funds.

The bench stressed that creating procedural clarity was essential to prevent further delays that have prolonged the ordeal for thousands of affected homebuyers. The Supreme Court posted the matter for the next hearing on September 30, signaling its intent to maintain momentum in resolving the high-profile case that has impacted numerous investors across India.