The CBI on Thursday registered an FIR against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda and Associated Journals limited (AJl), which runs National Herald, for land allotment irregularities.
The FIR alleged that then Chief Minister Hooda as Chairman HUDA abused his position, contravened the policies and went against the advise rendered by the official to re-advertise the plot, to re-allot to AJl at original rates plus interest on August 28, 2005.
CBI has taken over the FIR by State Vigilance Bureau of Haryana registered under the charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption against the then Chairman HUDA (the then Chief Minister B S Hooda), then Chief Administrator, HUDA, the then administrator, Financial Commissioner, Town and Country Planning department, Associated Journals limited and others.
The complaint from Haryana Government, which is now part of the CBI FIR, alleged that AJl was allotted a plot in Panchkula in 1982 on which no construction took place till 1992 prompting the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to resume the plot.
The company filed an appeal against the decision which was dismissed by the Administrator HUDA on July 26, 1995. PNS
It preferred revision which was also dismissed by Commissioner, Town and Country Planning in 1996.
The AJl’s Directors are Congress leaders Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandez and Sonia Gandhi family’s loyalists Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey. These persons along with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are already facing trial in the case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.