The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress leader Motilal Vora on Saturday, 1 December, in connection with the alleged irregularities in the re-allotment of an institutional plot in Panchkula to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL). AJL is allegedly controlled by Congress leaders.
The central agency, which filed the chargesheet in a special court, has alleged that the re-allotment of the plot, C-17, has caused a loss of Rs 67 lakh to the exchequer.
The agency has charged the then Haryana Chief Minister Hooda, who was also the chairman of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), the then chairman of the AJL, Vora, and the company under the IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In response to the CBI chargesheet, 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 chargesheet. There are no irregularities in the matter.”Motilal Vora
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told ANI that such cases against Opposition leaders are becoming commonplace.
“(It is) happening in Andhra and everywhere else now. All these institutions that require to be independent are being utilised in this way,” Yechury said.
What are the Allegations?
In the chargesheet, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that the AJL was allotted a plot of land in Panchkula in 1982, on which no construction took place till 1992. The HUDA had subsequently taken back the possession of the plot.
The chargesheet alleged that the same plot was re-allotted to the AJL at its original rates in 2005 by allegedly violating the laid down norms by the then HUDA chairman, Hooda.
The AJL is reportedly controlled by senior Congress leaders, including members of the Gandhi family. The group runs the National Herald newspaper.
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