# Delhi HC orders builder to refund Rs 18 lakh with interest 2026-08-13T08:51:44+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets The Delhi High Court has directed a builder to refund Rs 18 lakh with 6% annual interest to a homebuyer couple, Mr and Mrs Maheshwari, after ruling that the builder had coerced them into a full and final settlement. The Economic Times reports that the couple had paid Rs 62 lakh for a villa in Gurgaon in 2008, but construction was slow and of poor quality. The builder cancelled the allotment in March 2009, forfeiting the earnest money. Later, under pressure, the couple accepted an alternative villa. The court held the settlement was not voluntary. The builder had argued that the settlement was binding, but the court rejected this claim. The Rs 18 lakh refund covers the amount held back by the builder after the cancellation. The case highlights how builders often use coercive bargaining to force settlements on homebuyers who have already lost significant sums. ## Coverage - economictimes.indiatimes.com - hindustantimes.com Tags: builder refund, coercion, Delhi High Court, forced settlement, homebuyers, real estate Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-hc-orders-builder-to-refund-rs-18-lakh-plus-interest/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-hc-orders-builder-to-refund-rs-18-lakh-plus-interest/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.