GURGAON: A resident of Trump Towers in Sector 65, Gurgaon, has accused developer M3M India of restricting his family’s movement within the residential complex by disabling direct lift access to his apartment on the 36th floor, describing the experience as being placed under “house arrest”.The developer has rejected the allegation, calling it misleading and maintaining that the restrictions were part of a uniform security arrangement during ongoing interior fit-out work in the tower.The controversy came to light after resident Varun Suhag posted videos on social media on November 1, alleging that the developer’s management had made it difficult for his family to enter and exit their apartment. He claimed that the lift call button for his floor had been deactivated, forcing family members to contact the building’s helpdesk whenever they needed to use the elevator.According to Suhag, the wait for lift access often stretched to 30-40 minutes. He also alleged that delivery personnel, visitors, personal vehicles and goods were being prevented from reaching his apartment on the instructions of the building management.Suhag said he had taken possession of the apartment on August 27. He also raised concerns about the difficulties the restrictions could cause in a medical emergency, pointing out that his family included his elderly mother, who has a heart condition, and a one-year-old child.In a series of posts on X, Suhag also questioned how the project received its Occupancy Certificate and Completion Certificate when, according to him, construction work was still underway. He alleged that the project was originally scheduled for completion in December 2024 and that he had approached the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA), seeking compensation for delayed possession.“My name is Varun Suhag. I am the owner of apartment number 36C at Trump Towers, where the builder has effectively put us under house arrest. The building is also allegedly undergoing illegal construction. We took possession of the apartment on August 27, 2026, and I moved in with my furniture on October 30. Within just two days, I found that I could no longer call the lift. The builder has wilfully blocked my access, preventing me from leaving my own apartment,” Varun posted on X.“The law and order situation has gone for a toss. I have already lodged a complaint with the police, but no action has been taken so far. As you can see, I have a one-year-old baby and my mother at home. If either of them has a medical emergency, we cannot even step out. This is the unfortunate situation in a supposedly prestigious project like this one, where an apartment costs crores of rupees,” Varun wrote.In another video, Varun said the service lift was also inaccessible. He explained that the kitchen opens towards a staircase, from where he has to climb down 36 steps to reach a door leading to another floor and, eventually, someone else’s apartment. He added that none of the staircases provides access to the lift.“I have filed a case in RERA for delayed possession charges, as the project was to be completed in December 2024. Even though the building still remains under construction, I don’t know how they have received the Occupancy Certificate and Completion Certificate,” he wrote.He also said he was paying EMIs on the housing loan and maintenance charges despite the difficulties in accessing his apartment. Suhag clarified that he had no personal enmity with M3M promoter and director Pankaj Bansal.
M3M says restrictions were security measure
Responding to the allegations, M3M India categorically denied that Suhag or any member of his family had been placed under house arrest. The company said neither the resident nor his family was prevented from leaving the apartment or accessing the building’s common areas.In its statement, M3M said the tower’s lifts remained operational and could be called from other floors. The apartment was served by two main elevators, while both staircases designated as fire and emergency exits remained accessible throughout. No emergency or safety facility, it said, was restricted.Explaining the rationale behind the restrictions, the developer said more than 200 workers were entering the tower every day to undertake interior fit-out work commissioned by homeowners in unoccupied apartments. To regulate their movement and protect the privacy and security of existing residents, floor-level lift calling had been enabled only for occupied apartments.The company said Suhag had been informed about the arrangement through an email dated October 3, 2026. The communication explained that the lift operating panel serving his apartment would be activated once he was ready to move in.M3M further said direct lift access to his floor had since been activated. Around 50 families were already residing in the tower and using hospitality services provided by Roseate, it added.Calling the allegations a misrepresentation of a standard security measure, the developer said its priority remained the safety, security and well-being of residents and that its team was available to address the homeowner’s concerns.The controversy has triggered a wider debate on residents’ access rights, security arrangements and the responsibilities of developers in residential projects where families have moved in even as interior work continues in other apartments.
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