THE HARYANA government has decided to order an inquiry into the allotment of a prime plot in Panchkula’s Sector 6 Institutional Area to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by the previous Congress government.
“The inquiry will be conducted either by the State Vigilance Bureau or the Central Bureau of Investigation,” Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference, Sharma said: “The Vigilance department of Haryana Urban Development Authority has conducted an internal inquiry in the matter. For a regular inquiry, the case will be handed over to an independent agency.”
“In 2005, within six months of his becoming CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda allotted 3,360 square metres of prime space (C- 17 plot at Sector 6) in Panchkula to AJL,” said Sharma. He added that the Hooda government allotted the plot through HUDA on September 28, 2005.
“Interestingly, the entire process, from allotment to mutation, was completed in a day. The plot is located in the midst of police headquarters, state vigilance bureau and health centre. A four-storey building has been constructed. The market price of the plot at that time was Rs 23 crore. It was allotted (to AJL) for Rs 59 lakh.”
Sharma added that in HUDA records, the allottee’s permanent and temporary address is recorded as Herald House, 5-A, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi.
About the allotment of 13 industrial plots in Panchkula, in which an FIR has been registered on the directions of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Sharma said there could be a CBI inquiry in the case. “The matter is under consideration of the CM. He will take a decision on this,” said Sharma.
He added that during Hooda’s tenure, 582 people had applied for the industrial plots. “They included engineers, industrialists. None of the 13 people allotted plots had experience of running industry. Two were from Hooda’s family… Nandita Hooda and Renu Hooda.”
He added that the FIR was filed after the case was investigated by Vigilance Bureau over the past year and the statements of those involved were recorded. “Several officers investigated and the inquiry report came to CM. After that, opinion was sought from the AG. Only then the FIR was registered,” said Sharma.
Adding that it was not a case of personal enmity, Sharma said they had the mandate of the people to initiate action against the wrongdoings of the Congress at the Centre and Haryana.