Haryana Vigilance books 5 ex-MLAs

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 29

The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) today registered cases against five former MLAs, including former Health Minister Rao Narender Singh, in the alleged cash-for-change of land use (CLU) scam.

While a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against Rao Narender in Gurgaon, Vinod Bhayana, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Naresh Selwal, Jarnail Singh and Ram Niwas Ghorela were booked in Hisar. 

ADGP (SVB) BK Sinha said the cases were registered following the Punjab and Haryana High Court not providing any relief to Bhayana.

Opposition Indian National Lok Dal had released some CDs three years ago purportedly showing the former Congress MLAs seeking illegal gratification in lieu of getting CLU permissions. The matter was brought before the Lokayukta, who recommended registration of cases even as the accused maintained that the allegations  were “false”.

The previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda government had asked the Lokayukta to reconsider the case, following which he directed ADGP K Kamaraja to hold an inquiry. Besides recommending an FIR against Bhayana, Kamaraja recommended registration of criminal cases against four other former MLAs.

While four ex-MLAs were accused of seeking money in lieu of CLUs, Ghorela allegedly sought money in lieu of getting funds cleared for an NGO to open schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.