PMLA probe: ED questions Hooda over land aquisitions

In 2021, the ED had filed a prosecution complaint against Hooda and 21 others under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in Panchkula’s industrial plot allotment case. The prosecution complaint pertains to allocation of 14 industrial plots in

2013, worth Rs 30.34 crore, allegedly to the acquaintances of then CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The ED has found in its investigations that “as a result of criminal conspiracy, the then Chief Minister and ex-officio Chairman, Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), four retired IAS officers and other office bearers of HUDA, illegally benefited pre-selected acquaintances of the then CM by allotting them 14 industrial plots, denying allotment to more worthy applicants.

It said, “The price fixed for the allotment was kept 4-5 times below circle rate and 7-8 times below the market rate. The criteria for allotment was altered 18 days after last date of application and when all the applicant data was in possession of HUDA. Criteria was altered… to favour pre-selected applicants by increasing the discretion at the hands of the interview committee”.

“Hence, worthy applicants were driven out of merit and applicants who were closely connected to Bhupinder Singh Hooda… were allotted these plots”, the prosecution complaint reads.

The ED initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR filed on December 19, 2015 by the State Vigilance Bureau. The said FIR was transferred to the CBI.