Gurgaon News

In Gurgaon’s inaugural direct mayoral election, the contest has become a focal point for the city’s influential Punjabi community, with both major parties fielding Punjabi women candidates. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Rajrani Malhotra, a graduate homemaker and wife of RSS veteran Tilak Raj Malhotra. The Congress party has put forward Seema Pahuja, a social worker with a 10th-grade education and former BJP councillor. The election is scheduled for March 2, with approximately 900,000 voters expected to cast their ballots across 721 polling booths to elect a woman mayor from the BC-A category. Malhotra benefits from the BJP’s strong organizational support and her husband’s deep ties within the Punjabi community. Pahuja, despite her recent defection from the BJP, brings valuable local political experience and her husband Bunty Pahuja’s social influence to her campaign. The election’s outcome may hinge on the support of the Vaishya community, which has felt underrepresented in recent elections. The BJP’s candidate selection has caused some dissatisfaction among both Punjabi and Vaishya communities. Congress functionary Ajay Singh Yadav noted that the party’s decision to nominate a Punjabi woman prompted the BJP to adjust its strategy accordingly. Haryana BJP media in-charge Arvind Saini highlighted the party’s previous electoral successes in the region, attributing them to the government’s developmental work. The election results are anticipated to potentially reshape political alignments in the city.

In the early hours of Friday, December 20, 2024, a significant fire erupted at a plastic recycling warehouse in Gurgaon’s Kadipur Industrial Area. The blaze was extensive, but prompt action by emergency services ensured it was brought under control without any reported casualties. Fireman Jaspal Gulia reported that 15 to 20 fire tenders were deployed to the scene. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. The facility, identified as Haryana Industries’ plastic recycling and trading unit, suffered complete damage due to the fire. Additionally, two adjacent warehouses sustained damage, and a truck parked nearby was also destroyed. Over 20 fire tenders from various stations, including Sector 29, Sector 37, Bhim Nagar, Udyog Vihar, Manesar, and Pataudi, worked tirelessly for approximately twelve hours to extinguish the flames. The Times of India The incident highlights the challenges associated with managing plastic waste and recycling facilities. Haryana has seen a 38% increase in plastic waste generation over the past year, leading to concerns about waste management and the potential hazards of fires in such facilities. Experts emphasize the need for improved waste segregation and recycling infrastructure to mitigate such risks. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage. This event underscores the importance of stringent safety measures in industrial areas, especially those dealing with combustible materials.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has mandated action against over 4,500 properties in Gurgaon’s DLF Phases 1-5 due to unauthorized constructions and commercial activities in residential zones. The bench, comprising Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Vikas Suri, directed the district administration and the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) to implement corrective measures within two months and submit a compliance report by April 19, 2025. This directive follows a 2021 public interest litigation by the DLF City Residents Welfare Association, highlighting the proliferation of illegal constructions and the conversion of residential properties into commercial establishments, particularly along Golf Course Road, MG Road, and internal sectors of DLF Phases 1-5. Such unauthorized developments have reportedly strained essential services like water supply, sewage systems, and electricity. Notably, violations are prevalent in Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing within DLF Phases 3, 4, and 5, where over 2,700 units have been illegally modified, some expanded up to six or eight floors. The court has also ruled that, under Section 15 of the Haryana Urban Development Act, civil courts lack jurisdiction over DTCP’s actions, thereby preventing property owners from seeking relief through local courts. Consequently, authorities have commenced property assessments to enforce the court’s orders, with the DTCP expected to issue notices and take prompt action against violators. District Town Planner (Enforcement) Amit Madholia stated that show-cause notices have been issued, and subsequent actions, including sealing and demolition of unauthorized structures, will follow as per legal provisions.

Ex-Army officer among two cheated of Rs 48 lakh in investment frauds In Gurgaon, two individuals—a 49-year-old retired Army Colonel from Sector 83 and a 75-year-old businessman from DLF Phase IV—have collectively lost ₹48 lakh in separate stock market investment scams. Police have registered two cases of cheating in connection with these incidents. In the first case, the retired Colonel was approached on January 9 by an individual named Shambhavi Sanya, who claimed to represent a trading platform. She persuaded him to open an Over the Counter (OTC) trading account and transfer funds into various bank accounts under the guise of investments. Between January 13 and 28, he transferred a total of ₹15 lakh. The virtual account showed a balance of ₹48.2 lakh, but when he attempted to withdraw the funds, he was asked to pay a ₹9 lakh service charge. After paying the fee, his withdrawal requests were still denied. He later discovered that the company Sanya claimed to represent did not offer any OTC trading services. A case has been registered at Cyber Manesar police station under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In the second incident, the elderly businessman was defrauded of ₹7 lakh between December 27, 2024, and January 8, 2025. He transferred ₹8 lakh into bank accounts provided by a fraudster for stock investments. Upon attempting to withdraw funds, he received ₹1 lakh, after which his bank account was blocked on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs. A case has been filed at Cyber East police station under Section 318(4) of the BNS. Gurgaon police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar stated that investigating officers are gathering transaction details and that both cases are currently under investigation.

A Gurgaon resident, Gurjot Ahluwalia, recently shared his journey of increasing his net worth to ₹5 crore in just over a decade. Aiming for financial independence by 2025, Ahluwalia highlighted three pivotal strategies: Professional Advancement: Prioritizing career growth to secure a substantial income. Delayed Gratification: Practicing disciplined saving by postponing immediate desires. Equity Investments and Entrepreneurship: Investing in stocks and owning businesses to boost wealth. He also acknowledged advantages that facilitated his financial progress, such as being debt-free due to parental support for his education and saving on housing costs by living with his parents. Ahluwalia clarified that his net worth calculation excludes property and jewelry, focusing instead on assets like equities, mutual funds, bonds, NPS, EPF, and savings. His story has garnered admiration online, with many praising his consistency and patience. Some noted the challenges of achieving similar financial milestones, especially in high-cost cities, but recognized that a high salary combined with disciplined saving can lead to significant wealth accumulation. This narrative underscores the importance of strategic planning, disciplined saving, and informed investing in achieving financial goals.

The Haryana government has initiated a comprehensive investigation into alleged malpractices among patwaris—officials responsible for maintaining land records. The probe focuses on accusations that these officials have employed personal staff to perform official duties and have engaged in corrupt practices. A report dated January 14 identified 370 patwaris under scrutiny, with 27 based in Gurgaon. Additionally, 170 individuals employed as personal staff by these patwaris have been named as intermediaries in these alleged corrupt activities. These aides are accused of facilitating bribe transactions, with amounts reportedly ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh for services such as property registrations and issuance of general power of attorney (GPA) documents. Anurag Rastogi, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department, has directed all Deputy Commissioners to conduct thorough investigations into these allegations. In response, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar has instructed Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to examine the conduct of patwaris within their respective jurisdictions and to implement measures to enhance the operations of revenue offices, known as patwar ghars. The findings from these investigations will be compiled and submitted to the government for further action. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to addressing corruption within the revenue department and ensuring transparency in land record management.