HC stays trial court proceedings against Bhupinder Hooda, AJL
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Tribune News Service
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Chandigarh, July 1
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed trial court proceedings against Haryana’s former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Associated Journal Limited (AJL) in a case regarding the allotment of a plot in Panchkula to the AJL.
P’kula plot centre of controversy
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- The controversy revolves around institutional plot no. C-17 in Sector 6, Panchkula. Allotted by HUDA to AJL in 1982, it was taken back in 1992 as construction wasn’t carried out in 10 years. The appeal and revision filed by AJL against the resumption of plot were also dismissed by HUDA administrator and state’s financial commissioner (town and country planning) in 1995 and 1996. But when Hooda became the CM in 2005, he allowed the re-allotment of the plot to AJL.
The directions by Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan came after preliminary hearing on two petitions filed in the matter by Hooda and AJL. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and RS Cheema with counsels Arshdeep Singh Cheema and Tarannum Cheema appeared before the Bench through video-conferencing on the petitioners’ behalf.
Hooda had moved the High Court, challenging Panchkula CBU Special Judge’s order, vide which charges were framed against him and other accused. Among other things, Hooda had sought directions for setting aside the impugned order, dated April 16 passed by the Special Judge in FIR registered on April 5, 2017, for cheating and criminal conspiracy under Sections 120-B and 420 of Indian Penal Code, besides Prevention of Corruption Act.
Directions were sought to acquit Hooda of all charges levelled against him, in the “interest of justice”. Stay on proceeding of the case before the CBI Special Judge, during the pendency of the present criminal revision petition, was also sought.
The controversy revolves around institutional plot number C-17 in Sector 6, Panchkula. Allotted by HUDA to AJL in 1982, it was taken back in 1992 as construction was not carried out in 10 years. The appeal and revision filed by AJL against the resumption of plot were also dismissed by HUDA administrator and Haryana’s financial commissioner (town and country planning) in 1995 and 1996. However, when Hooda become the CM in 2005, he allowed the re-allotment of the plot to AJL.
After Khattar came to power in October, 2014, an FIR was registered by the state vigilance bureau into alleged irregularities in the allotment “causing huge financial loss to HUDA”.
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