Land Allotted to AJL Attached by ED Under Money Laundering Act

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Haryana Chief Minister.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Bhupinder Singh Hooda)

The Enforcement Directorate has attached a Panchkula-based plot allotted to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by Haryana government in 2005 under anti-money laundering law, the agency said.

“... Since the value of the plot fraudulently alloted to AJL has represented proceeds of crime, the ED has attached plot under PMLA act," the CBI said in its statement, as reported by PTI.

The Background

On Saturday, 1 December, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress leader Motilal Vora. This was in connection with the alleged irregularities in the re-allotment of an institutional plot in Panchkula to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

The AJL is allegedly controlled by senior congress leaders and runs the National Herald newspaper.

The CBI had charged Hooda, Vora and the company under the IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

No irregularities in the matter : Motilal Vora

In response to the CBI charge sheet, Vora told ANI that the ruling government had “bad intentions”.

“Matter is sub-judice, and truth will triumph at last. We will reply to the charge sheet. There are no irregularities in the matter.”

Motilal Vora

(With inputs from PTI)