Kabul Chawla: 14 years After FIR and Arrest Warrant. No Concrete Action & The Case Went To Cold Bag. Investors Still Suffering & Getting Tarikh Pe Tarikh

In the cutthroat world of Indian real estate, few names evoke as much intrigue, admiration, and outrage as Kabul Chawla. As the founder and Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of Business Park Town Planners (BPTP) Ltd., Chawla has been at the helm of one of the National Capital Region’s (NCR) most prominent developers.

Yet, his career is marred by allegations of fraud, delays in project deliveries, and a lavish lifestyle funded, critics claim, by duped homebuyers’ money. From humble beginnings in Haryana to owning multimillion-dollar properties in New York, Chawla’s story is a blend of entrepreneurial success and legal controversies. As of August 2025, despite a non-bailable arrest warrant issued over a decade ago, Chawla continues to lead BPTP, recently receiving accolades for sustainable development while evading accountability for past grievances. This article delves into his life, the scams he’s accused of, his absconding from India, alleged international misdeeds, and his current status.

Who is Kabul Chawla?

Kabul Chawla, now in his early 50s, was born in Karnal, Haryana, into a family with modest roots but notable connections. He is a cousin of the late Kalpana Chawla, the Indian-American astronaut who tragically perished in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. This familial link has often been highlighted in media profiles, contrasting Kalpana’s heroic legacy with Kabul’s contentious business practices. Chawla entered the real estate sector in his early 20s, starting small by constructing a building on his father’s property.

By the mid-2000s, he had founded BPTP Ltd., a Gurugram-based firm that rapidly expanded into residential, commercial, and township developments across Delhi-NCR, including Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida, and beyond.

BPTP’s growth was meteoric during the pre-2012 real estate boom in NCR. The company launched ambitious projects like Park Serene in Gurugram and Parklands in Faridabad, pre-selling thousands of units. Chawla positioned himself as a visionary, emphasizing affordable housing and integrated townships. Under his leadership, BPTP grew from a team of 20 to a major player, boasting a sprawling headquarters in Gurugram and projects worth billions.

Reports suggest Chawla has strong political connections in Haryana, which may have aided land acquisitions and regulatory approvals. He owns prime properties, including a bungalow on Delhi’s upscale Amrita Shergil Marg in Lutyens’ Zone.

Despite his success, Chawla’s public persona is low-key. He rarely gives interviews, and his social media presence is minimal, with several unverified accounts bearing his name on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). As of 2025, BPTP remains operational under his command, with ongoing projects like GAIA Residences in Sector 102, Gurugram, and The Deck in Sector 82, Faridabad. In May 2025, Chawla was honored with the IGBC Fellow Award for contributions to sustainable building practices, presented at BPTP’s IGBC Platinum-rated Capital City project in Noida. This accolade highlights his continued influence in the industry, even as old controversies linger.

What Scam Did He Do?

Chawla’s alleged scams center on BPTP’s failure to deliver promised properties, diverting funds, and misleading investors—issues emblematic of India’s pre-RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act, 2016) era. The most prominent case involves the Park Serene Apartments in Gurugram, launched in 2008. Around 400 buyers, many retired military officers, paid nearly 100% of the costs—totaling about $35 million—for apartments with amenities like parks and clubs. Possession was promised within years, but the project remains incomplete or substandard as of 2025.

Buyers accused BPTP of diverting funds to other ventures, leaving Park Serene in limbo. Protests erupted, with victims claiming they invested life savings only to face homelessness. Similar complaints arose from the Parklands project in Faridabad, where over 1,000 homebuyers alleged duping of Rs 400 crore. Plots and flats promised by 2012 were delayed indefinitely. In 2010, three Delhi investors filed cases against BPTP for failing to deliver plots in Sector 102, Gurugram, after paying Rs 2.86 crore collectively. Courts ordered FIRs under IPC sections for cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

A 2014 case in Faridabad accused Chawla of cheating via unlicensed land sales. Forensic audits in related scandals, like Unitech’s, revealed patterns of fund siphoning to shell companies—tactics critics attribute to BPTP. By 2022, reports estimated thousands affected across projects, with settlements like the 2019 agreement for Faridabad towers failing due to COVID-19 delays. As recently as June 2025, articles lamented “14 years, 1 FIR, 1,000 cheated families,” with Chawla still free. These scams eroded trust in NCR real estate, contributing to sector-wide bankruptcies.

Arrest Warrant Against Kabul Chawla

Legal troubles escalated in January 2011 when the first FIR was filed against BPTP in Faridabad for non-delivery. By December 2011, a Delhi court issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Chawla for ignoring summons in a cheating case. The Patiala House Court acted after complaints from buyers like accountant Suresh Goel, who alleged BPTP sold unlicensed commercial land and refused refunds.

Subsequent FIRs piled up: In 2014, Faridabad police booked Chawla for fraud. In 2016, Gurugram police registered three cases for duping investors of Rs 3 crore in Sector 102 plots. Charges included criminal breach of trust (IPC 406), cheating (420), forgery (467-471), and conspiracy (120-B). Courts ordered investigations, but enforcement lagged. As of 2025, the 2011 NBW remains active, with no arrest. A 2022 report noted 11 years post-warrant, Chawla was “living it up in New York.” Recent demands for his arrest surfaced in July 2024 after a child’s drowning in a BPTP pool, with residents accusing negligence by Chawla and executives. Police arrested lifeguards, not leadership.

How He Absconded from India

Chawla reportedly fled India shortly after the 2011 NBW, settling in the US. Sources claim he left amid mounting pressure from buyers and courts, leveraging political ties to evade immediate arrest. By 2012, he was linked to a $19.4 million condo purchase in New York’s Time Warner Center, signaling his relocation. Protests in India continued without him, as BPTP operated via proxies.

His absconding fits a pattern among NCR developers like Unitech’s Chandra brothers (jailed since 2017). Chawla’s strong Haryana connections allegedly delayed extradition. Despite a red-corner notice in similar cases (e.g., JVPD’s Laxman Bhagtani), none was issued for him. As of 2025, he’s deemed absconding in Indian records but freely active in business.

Scams He Did in USA and Other Countries

While Chawla’s core scams are India-based, his US activities raised suspicions of money laundering. A 2015 New York Times investigation revealed his family’s link to a $19.4 million condo at Time Warner Center, bought via shell company NYC Real Estate Opportunities. Chawla denied ownership, claiming it was his cousin Aneil Anand’s, but emails tied him to the deal. Critics alleged funds from Indian frauds financed it, amid protests back home.

In 2015, JPMorgan sued to seize the condo over a $90 million arbitration award from a 2008-2009 stake dispute in BPTP. A London panel ruled against Chawla’s firms; US courts froze the property, criticizing shell companies. The case settled with BPTP paying up to Rs 390 crore. No direct US scams, but the purchase exemplified opaque foreign investments. No evidence of scams in other countries, though ED probes in India hinted at overseas diversions similar to Unitech’s Cyprus transfers.

Present Situation of Kabul Chawla

As of August 2025, Chawla remains BPTP’s CMD, steering the company toward sustainability. The IGBC award in May underscores his pivot to green projects, with BPTP delivering some developments despite delays. However, buyer grievances persist: YouTube reviews label BPTP “fraudulent,” citing poor quality and mismanagement. The 2024 pool tragedy reignited calls for accountability, but no arrests followed.

Legally, old cases stagnate; the 2011 warrant is unresolved. BPTP settled some disputes, like the 2019 Faridabad agreement, but COVID halted progress. Financially stable, BPTP competes with giants, though scandals tarnish its reputation. Chawla’s situation reflects post-RERA reforms, yet pre-2016 victims await justice.

Where Is Kabul Chawla Now?

Reports place Chawla in Manhattan, New York, “roaming free” as per a June 2025 article. He owns the disputed Time Warner condo and Delhi property. Despite absconding status, he visits India sporadically—evidenced by the 2025 award ceremony. X posts confirm his active role in BPTP events. Living luxuriously abroad, Chawla evades Indian courts, symbolizing challenges in prosecuting high-profile fugitives.

Kabul Chawla‘s saga underscores NCR real estate’s dark side: boom-era excesses, regulatory gaps, and elusive justice. While BPTP thrives, thousands of victims seek closure. As India strengthens realty laws, Chawla’s freedom questions enforcement efficacy. Will he face trial, or continue his transatlantic life? Only time—and perhaps renewed probes—will tell.