Hooda misused official position: ED

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today said that former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda “misused his official position” to cause wrongful gain to the Congress-owned Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

In reply to a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court by The Associated Journals Limited (AJL), SK Kantiwal, Deputy Director of Enforcement Directorate, said Hooda misused his official position to re-allot the plot to the petitioner and caused “wrongful gain” to it or corresponding loss to the state exchequer.

He said the plot worth crores of rupees was re-allotted to AJL for Rs 59 lakh, including interest, though the petitioner was not even legally entitled for it.

AJL was seeking quashing of the enforcement case investigation report registered by the Enforcement Directorate. The ED had recently questioned Congress veteran Moti Lal Vora (aged 86) along with Hooda in the case.

The reply added the HUDA Estate Officer cancelled/resumed the initial allotment to the petitioner due to non-fulfilment of allotment conditions. Despite default by the petitioner, Hooda re-allotted the plot in gross violation of the policy, as well as the legal position.

The investigations revealed that Hooda thrice extended the time limit for construction on the plot against the policy by “abusing his official position” vide order of May 1, 2008, February 14, 2011, and May 10, 2012. The construction was finally completed in 2014, which was a condition precedent for allotment.

The reply stated the plot was never restored to the petitioner but was illegally re-allotted by Hooda.

Kantiwal claimed AJL was not cooperating in the investigation. AJL was asked to submit copies of the minutes of the board of resolution since 2005 regarding the allotment of the Panchkula plot. But the petitioner intentionally furnished the extracts of minutes of only one meeting held on September 5, 2005.

He also submitted a vital fact regarding representations to a former Chief Minister, Bansi Lal, for restoration of the plot to the petitioner and its non-consideration by him was deliberately concealed, showing that AJL did not approach the court with clean hands.

Kantiwal said the investigations also revealed that AJL, after non-consideration of its request by Bansi Lal, did not make any effort. It waited for a suitable time and period when conditions were positive for getting a favourable order regarding restoration of the plot.

He asserted that the investigations also showed that Hooda was desperate enough to extend favour to the petitioner. Hooda overruled the recommendation of the HUDA Chief Administrator and assertions of the FCTCP that there was no merit in the case and the possibility must be examined for the re-allotment of the plot at the current rates.

Taking up the reply, Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court fixed August 31 as the next date of hearing.