ED Files Prosecution Complaint Against Congress Bigwig Bhupinder Singh Hooda In Panchkula Plot Allotment Scam

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a prosecution complaint against Congress bigwig and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and 21 others in the Panchkula Industrial Plot Allotment Scam, ANI reports.

The case includes the allocation of 14 industrial plots costing Rs 30.34 crore allegedly to Hooda’s acquaintances in 2013 and the complaint has been filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002.

It has been alleged that the price decided for this subject allotment was four-five times lower than the circle rate and in fact seven-eight times lower than the market rate.

The central agency’s official release read, “ED initiated an investigation on the basis of FIR No. 09 dated December 19, 2015, of State Vigilance Bureau, Haryana. The said FIR was transferred to CBI and subsequently FIR No. RC AC1 2016 A 0002 Dated 19/05/2016 under section 120-B, 201, 204, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and section 13 of the PC Act, 1988 for alleged illegal allotment of 14 industrial plots in Phase - 1 and 2 of Panchkula, Haryana was registered by CBI/AC-1, New Delhi.”

Along with Hooda, the complaints have been registered against former HUDA official Bharat Bhushan Taneja along with four other ex-IAS officers, named: Surjit Singh, Narinder Kumar Solanki, Dharam Pal Singh and Subhash Chandra Kansal.

Moreover, 14 other allottees and beneficiaries of the Industrial Plots Allocation have been named by the ED for being involved in the commission of the offence of money laundering.

“The prosecution complaint against above mentioned accused has been filed under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 before the Hon'ble Special Court, PMLA, 2002 at Panchkula,” ED’s release further stated.

The 14 concerned industrial plots were attached by the ED in August 2019 according to the provisions laid out by PMLA 2002. This development was confirmed by the adjudicating authority of the PMLA this month and further investigations in this matter are underway.