The Delhi Gymkhana Club, where the city’s powerful and elite rubbed shoulders for nearly a century, stared at possible closure on Saturday with the Centre asking it to return its expansive 27.3 acres by June 5 on grounds of “securing defence infrastructure”.

The premises, situated at 2, Safdarjung Road, in Lutyens’ Delhi, were leased to the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd for maintaining a social and sporting club.