ED attaches ₹140 crore Earth Group assets in ₹2,004 crore homebuyer fraud
Synopsis
The ED has attached ₹140 crore in Earth Infrastructure assets, pushing total seizures to ₹352 crore in a ₹2,004 crore fraud that left over 19,425 homebuyers without promised properties. With four promoters already arrested and charged, and both EOW and SFIO active alongside the ED, the multi-agency net around one of Delhi-NCR's larger builder-fraud cases is tightening.
Key Takeaways
The ED provisionally attached ₹140 crore in immovable assets of Earth Infrastructure , its promoters, and related entities on 12 October 2026 .
Total assets attached and seized in the case now stand at approximately ₹352 crore .
The alleged fraud amounts to ₹2,004 crore , collected from over 19,425 homebuyers and investors with promises of timely delivery and assured returns.
Promoters Avdhesh Kumar Goel , Rajneesh Mittal , Atul Gupta , and Vikas Gupta were arrested on 1 June ; a chargesheet seeking confiscation of ₹212 crore in properties was filed on 29 July .
Earlier searches in April 2026 yielded cash of ₹6.30 crore , jewellery worth ₹8.78 crore , and documents for over 100 properties .
Five EOW-Delhi Police FIRs and an SFIO complaint under Section 447 of the Companies Act are also active in the case.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable assets worth approximately ₹140 crore belonging to Earth Infrastructure, its subsidiaries, and promoters, in connection with a ₹2,004 crore fraud affecting over 19,425 homebuyers and investors across Delhi-NCR. The attachment, carried out by the ED's Delhi Zonal Office-II on 12 October 2026, brings the total value of assets attached and seized in the case to approximately ₹352 crore.
What Was Attached and Why
The provisional attachment covers immovable properties held by Earth Infrastructure's promoters — Avdhesh Kumar Goel, Rajneesh Mittal, Atul Gupta, and Vikas Gupta — along with their family members and associated entities. The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to the ED, the group collected approximately ₹2,004 crore from more than 19,425 buyers and investors by promising timely delivery of residential and commercial units as well as assured returns. Investigations found that substantial funds were diverted through a network of group entities and related concerns, leaving many projects either incomplete or with possession never handed over.
Arrests, Chargesheet and Prior Seizures
The four promoters were arrested on 1 June under Section 19 of the PMLA following due legal procedure. A chargesheet was subsequently filed on 29 July seeking conviction and confiscation of properties valued at more than ₹212 crore.
Earlier, the ED had conducted searches in April 2026 at multiple premises linked to the Earth Group across Delhi-NCR. Those searches resulted in the seizure of cash worth approximately ₹6.30 crore, jewellery valued at roughly ₹8.78 crore, and property documents relating to more than 100 immovable properties with an estimated value exceeding ₹100 crore.
Multiple Agencies Closing In
The money laundering probe was initiated on the basis of five FIRs registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Delhi Police against Earth Infrastructure, its directors, and related entities under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Separately, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has filed a criminal complaint under Section 447 of the Companies Act against the group's promoters and directors — a multi-agency convergence that signals the severity of the alleged offences.
The ED stated that the four promoters played a central role in planning and executing the diversion of funds through a complex web of transactions, with proceeds of crime used to acquire movable and immovable assets in the names of various entities and individuals linked to the group.
Impact on Homebuyers and What Comes Next
This is one of the larger real-estate fraud cases currently active in Delhi-NCR, with victims numbering in the tens of thousands. The pattern — collecting large sums, diverting funds, and leaving projects stalled — mirrors several other builder-fraud cases that have drawn ED scrutiny in recent years. With attached assets now standing at ₹352 crore against alleged fraud of ₹2,004 crore, investigators are expected to continue pursuing additional properties and bank accounts as the case moves toward trial. Homebuyers whose units remain undelivered would need to follow proceedings under the relevant courts for any restitution prospects.
Point of View
004 crore fraud — a reminder that asset attachment, while a powerful signalling tool, does not automatically translate into restitution for victims. The convergence of ED, EOW, and SFIO is legally significant and relatively rare, suggesting investigators believe the evidence trail is strong. What this case also exposes is a systemic gap: thousands of homebuyers paid in full, received nothing, and must now watch a slow legal process play out with no guarantee that attached assets will reach them. Regulatory reform linking builder fund disbursal to construction milestones — not just RERA registration — remains an unfinished agenda.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Earth Infrastructure fraud case?
Earth Infrastructure allegedly collected approximately ₹2,004 crore from over 19,425 homebuyers and investors by promising timely delivery of residential and commercial units and assured returns, but diverted the funds and left many projects incomplete or undelivered. The ED is investigating the matter as a money laundering case under the PMLA.
How much has the ED attached or seized so far in this case?
The total value of assets attached and seized has reached approximately ₹352 crore, including the latest provisional attachment of ₹140 crore in immovable properties belonging to Earth Infrastructure, its promoters, and related entities.
Who are the arrested promoters in the Earth Group case?
The four arrested promoters are Avdhesh Kumar Goel, Rajneesh Mittal, Atul Gupta, and Vikas Gupta. They were arrested on 1 June under Section 19 of the PMLA, and a chargesheet was filed against them on 29 July seeking conviction and confiscation of properties worth more than ₹212 crore.
Which other agencies are investigating the Earth Group?
Besides the Enforcement Directorate, the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police has registered five FIRs against Earth Infrastructure and its directors. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has also filed a criminal complaint under Section 447 of the Companies Act against the group's promoters and directors.
What happens to homebuyers who did not receive their properties?
Homebuyers whose units were not delivered would need to follow court proceedings as the case moves toward trial. Attached assets can potentially be used for restitution, but the legal process — including conviction and confiscation — must run its course before any distribution to victims is possible.
