ED chargesheets Hooda, 21 others in Panchkula plot allotment scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a cost sheet towards 22 accused individuals, together with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in reference to the Panchkula industrial plot allotment scam. The case includes allocation of 14 plots value ₹30.34 crore allegedly to the acquaintances of Mr. Hooda in 2013.

The ED’s cash laundering probe is predicated on an FIR registered by the State’s vigilance bureau on December 19, 2015. The FIR was later transferred to the CBI.

The company, based mostly on its findings, alleged that Mr. Hooda, because the then ex-officio Chairman of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), 4 then senior IAS officers and different office-bearers of HUDA (Panchkula) illegally prolonged favours to his acquaintances, denying allotment to extra worthy candidates.

Apart from Mr. Hooda, retired IAS officers Dharam Pal Singh Nagal, who was the Chief Administrator of the HUDA; Surjit Singh, who labored because the Administrator of the HUDA); Subhash Chandra Kansal, the then Chief Controller of Finance, the HUDA; and Narinder Kumar Solanki, the then Zonal Administrator ((*21*)), HUDA, have been arraigned.

Another accused HUDA official is Bharat Bhushan Taneja, the then Superintendent, HUDA, apart from the 14 allottees and beneficiaries.

The ED alleged that the worth mounted for the allotment was saved 4 to 5 instances under the circle charge and 7 to eight instances decrease than the prevailing market charge. “The criteria for allotment was altered 18 days after the last date of application and when all the applicant data was in possession of HUDA. The criteria was altered in such a way as to favour the pre-selected applicants by increasing the discretion at the hands of the interview committee,” it stated in an announcement.

‘Interview process compromised’

The total interview course of was vitiated and compromised as no formal file of marks allocation was saved, as alleged. “Hence, worthy applicants were driven out of merit and applicants who were closely connected to Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in terms of his personal capacity and also in terms of the political party he belongs to, were allotted these plots,” the ED stated.

All the 14 industrial plots stand connected below the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.