Bhupinder Singh Hooda Conspirator in Rs 1,000 Cr Manesar Scam: CBI

The CBI said Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s defence was neither “germane nor valid”.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Bhupinder Singh Hooda)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named senior Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the "main conspirator" in the alleged Rs 1000-crore Manesar land scam, reported the Indian Express.

Among the 34 people chargesheeted in the case are the then principal secretary to CM, MurarI Lal Tayal, then additional secretary to CM, Chhattar Singh, officers who served under the Town and Country Planning Department, reported the Indian Express. At the time, Hooda also held the Town and Country Planning department.

A CBI probe was ordered after private builders were seen purchasing land in three villages – Lakhnaula, Naurangpur and Manesar – while the government dropped the acquisition process.

The CBI chargesheet, as accessed by the Indian Express states that at least 439 acres of land under acquisition were allegedly released in favour of colonisers, builders and private individuals on Hooda’s orders.

The then chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in criminal conspiracy with the officials and private builders abandoned the acquisition process and later on issued the licenses to the otherwise ineligible applicants. Thus, causing wrongful gain to the private builders and loss to public exchequer and farmers.

CBI Chargesheet

According to the report, the CBI stated that the reasons given by Hooda to drop the acquisition did were neither "germane nor valid". The CBI countered Hooda’s defence that he released land after protests broke out against land acquisition. The chargesheet reportedly states that in some cases representations of the villagers were found to be allegedly “forged” by builders.

“The land was purchased by them [builders/ colonisers] through their brokers/ agents. Farmers were deceived under the impression that government will pay meagre rates of their land and the builders will pay more than the compensation amount. The farmers were also put under fear of acquisition of land, as in these villages earlier also the Government of Haryana had acquired the land 2-3 times, and the acquisition process was not dropped,” reads the chargesheet, as published by the daily.

(With inputs from Indian Express)

(This is a developing story and will be updated)