Ex-CEC Quraishi in list of those allotted multiple HUDA plots
After probe, HUDA gives list to HC.
The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), which is conducting a probe into multiple allotment of plots under discretionary quota by the state government in coveted urban areas, has submitted a list of 36 such beneficiaries to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
HUDA submitted the list to the high court, which is monitoring the probe, on Thursday. The list includes politicians as well as IAS and IPS officers. Prominent among them — the plots were allotted in late 1970s and early 1980s — are former CEC, S Y Quraishi, former MP Inder Singh Sheokand and former Haryana ministers Kharaiti Lal, Jagan Nath, Shanti Rathi. A few bureaucrats were also allotted such plots. All the names have been put up on HUDA’s website.
The list further includes former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal’s nephew Dura Ram. He was allotted four plots in his, wife, son and daughter’s names in Panchkula, Hisar, Karnal and Faridabad. The beneficiaries also include the family of former President Shankar Dyal Sharma. One of the allottees, Nawang Thounup, has mentioned his residential address as “C/o 10-Janpath, Delhi” — the official residence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
On Thursday, Justice Daya Chaudhary made it clear that the court will not spare anybody, however prominent, if found guilty. He asked HUDA to hear these 36 beneficiaries before registering criminal cases against them.
The court also directed HUDA to file a reply on why the names of 56 alleged beneficiaries submitted by the complainant — S K Sharma, the whistleblower in the case — were not mentioned in the last affidavit submitted by HUDA Chief Administrator A K Singh. The court will next hear the case on July 10.
Sharma had submitted a list of people who were allegedly allotted multiple plots under discretionary quota fraudulently in areas like Panchkula, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Hisar, Karnal. The petitioner in the case, Colonel Dharam Singh Yadav, had given a list of 36 people who were allotted such plots. On Thursday, HUDA confirmed all the 36 names.
While arguing the case, the petitioner’s counsel, Jasjit Singh Bedi, said that since some HUDA officials may be involved, it could not be expected to conduct a fair probe. The court observed that it will decide on how to complete the investigation in a stipulated frame time.
As of now, 402 FIRs have been registered on HUDA’s recommendations. HUDA had apprised the court that 408 people, belonging to 17 reserved categories, illegally obtained multiple allotments.
When contacted, Quraishi said: “It is not a case of multiple allotment. I got a plot in Faridabad, but then the area was not taking off. Thus, I applied for a plot in Panchkula. I was told that there was no availability and I should apply for a plot in Gurgaon. I did that. I applied for a loan to construct the house on the said plot in Gurgaon, but before that I was supposed to sell Faridabad plot, which I did.”
“I constructed a house in Gurgaon and am now living there. I have been asked to reply within 30 days. Since the case is over three decades old, I will have to find out old records and then reply,” he added.
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