Trump's Real Estate Empire in India: Partners and Controversies
Explore the diverse mix of Indian real estate companies that have partnered with The Trump Organization, including some with political connections and legal issues.
Real EstateTrumpIndiaControversiesPartnershipsReal Estate NewsAug 05, 2025
In 2023, a year before Trump was elected again as President, the promoters of three realty companies in this team were arrested on charges of allegedly bribing a judicial officer in Haryana. The case is ongoing but an adverse verdict could leave The Trump Organization potentially vulnerable under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act — the 1977 law that prohibits US companies or their business partners from bribing, or unduly influencing, foreign officials to advance a business deal. The Act has currently been paused by the Trump administration.
Rohan Landscapes: In 2011, The Trump Organization inked its first deal in India with Rohan Landscapes, a company formed in 2007, for a 45-60 storey building in Mumbai’s Chowpatty. The project fizzled out after the Maharashtra government denied permission to amalgamate two plots due to several alleged irregularities. Rohan Landscapes chairman Harresh Mehta has also been part of a CBI probe into an alleged SBI loan fraud case since 2016.
Panchshil Realty: The Trump Organization’s next deal in India was with this Pune-based firm in 2012. A year before the deal was announced, the then Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadse had raised allegations of a land scam and sought to link NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s family to the Panchshil Group. At that time, Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule and her husband held 8% stake in a Panchshil subsidiary. Panchshil Realty was founded by Atul Chordia in 2002. In 2017, an FIR was filed in Pune naming Chordia along with other builders for alleged forgery related to acquiring 326 acres. In 2022, the Bombay High Court quashed the FIR. In 2018, Pune Municipal Corporation initiated action after accusing Panchshil of allegedly cutting 500 trees illegally near the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary — the company denied any wrongdoing.
Lodha Group: In 2013, The Trump Organization announced a 78-storey tower in Mumbai’s Worli with the Lodha Group (now Macrotech Developers), which was founded in 1980 by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the BJP MLA from Malabar Hills since 1995. Now Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Maharashtra government, Lodha served as the BJP’s state president during 2019-2022.
Ireo Group: In 2016, The Trump Organization signed its fourth deal in India before Tribeca Developers entered the picture. The project with Ireo Group was labelled as the first Trump-branded commercial property under a branding and design agreement for an office tower at Gurgaon’s Golf Course Extension Road — but it never took off. Founded in 2004, the Ireo Group was accused of “large-scale fraud” and “illegally siphoning off” at least $147 million of investor money by two global investment companies based in New York and London that had put nearly $300 million in the realty company, The Washington Post reported in 2018 — the company had earlier denied the charges. In 2021, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Lalit Goyal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on charges of allegedly diverting more than Rs 2,600 crore belonging to homebuyers and investors through offshore entities in offshore tax havens. In 2023, he was arrested over charges of allegedly bribing a judicial officer in Haryana’s Panchkula. Goyal is on bail.
Unimark & RDB: In 2017, Tribeca teamed up with Unimark Group and RDB Group for a 38-storey residential Trump Tower in Kolkata. Unimark was founded in 1996 by Harsh Vardhan Patodia. In 2015 and in 2016, its pharmaceutical arm Unimark Remedies reportedly received warning letters from the USFDA for alleged quality-control issues. Subsequently, the company entered insolvency proceedings. RDB Group was founded in 1981 by Sunder Lal Dugar. Shortly after Donald Trump Jr’s visit to promote Trump Tower Kolkata, the Income Tax Department raided the offices of the RDB Group in February 2018. Earlier in 2011, SEBI barred RDB Group company RDB Rasayans and its promoters from accessing markets for four years for routing IPO funds as loans to RDB Realty & Infrastructure without adequate disclosure.
M3M & Smartworld Developers: In 2018, Tribeca launched Trump Towers in Gurugram with M3M Group founded in 2010 by Basant, Roop and Pankaj Bansal. Tribeca announced its second project in Gurugram this April with Smartworld Developers established in 2021 by the same promoters behind the M3M Group. In 2023, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the M3M promoters, raided multiple offices of M3M and Ireo in Gurugram and Delhi. M3M was charged with allegedly siphoning of up to Rs 400 crore from the Ireo Group through shell companies and bribing a judicial officer in Haryana along with Ireo’s Goyal. The M3M promoters were granted bail but the probe under PMLA continues.
Kundan Spaces: In March 2025, Tribeca and Kundan Spaces launched a 27-storey commercial twin towers project in Pune — the first Trump-branded office development in India. Kundan Spaces was founded in 1986 by B K Jain. This January, Kundan Spaces managing director Ashish Jain and M3M managing director Pankaj Bansal attended Donald Trump’s inauguration alongside Kalpesh Mehta, the founder of Tribeca Developers.
IRA Realty: The latest deal for the Trump brand in India was announced this April — two 63-floor residential towers in Hyderabad’s Golden Miles to be developed by IRA Realty founded in 2019 by Narsi Reddy Posham. Last month, the owner of one of the land parcels for the project claimed in a public notice that he had not agreed to the development. IRA, Kundan Space, Unimark, RDB, IREO, M3M, and SmartWorld did not respond to requests for comment from The Indian Express on project tie-ups linked to The Trump Organization. The Lodha Group declined to comment. Rohan Landscapes and Panchshil Realty do not have any delayed, current, or future projects linked to Trump’s business interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and how does it relate to The Trump Organization?
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a US law that prohibits US companies or their business partners from bribing foreign officials to gain business advantages. The Trump Organization could be vulnerable under this law if any of its Indian partners are found guilty of bribery.
Who is Harresh Mehta and what is his connection to Rohan Landscapes?
Harresh Mehta is the chairman of Rohan Landscapes, a company that partnered with The Trump Organization for a project in Mumbai. He has also been involved in a CBI probe related to an alleged SBI loan fraud case.
What is the current status of the project with Panchshil Realty in Pune?
The project with Panchshil Realty, which was founded by Atul Chordia, faced legal issues including an FIR for alleged forgery. However, the Bombay High Court quashed the FIR in 2022. The company has also been accused of illegally cutting trees near the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
What allegations have been made against the Ireo Group?
The Ireo Group was accused of large-scale fraud and illegally siphoning off at least $147 million of investor money. The company has also been involved in a case where its founder, Lalit Goyal, was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
What is the significance of the Trump Towers project in Gurugram with M3M Group?
The Trump Towers project in Gurugram, developed by M3M Group, faced significant legal issues. The M3M promoters were arrested and charged with siphoning off funds and bribing a judicial officer. The project's future remains uncertain due to these legal challenges.
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