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Tehelka Impact

ndia’s premier then CM Bhupinder Hooda
investigating agency had pleaded in Punjab and
CBI has conducted Haryana High Court that
searches at Rohtak FIR registered against him
I residence of former in the scam may be quashed
Haryana chief minister as he had merely carried the
Bhupinder Singh Hooda orders of the chief minister.
and at offices of two dozen Lawyers, who are con-
leading builders in NCR in testing the case, are keeping
connection with what is a close watch on the pro-
known as Golf Course Road, gress of investigations. Ram
Gurugram land acquisition Babu Ambavta, who is fight-
and subsequent release ing case of the farmers, had
scam. The agency has also said, “Farmers were cheated
named Haryana cadre IAS to the tune of 10,000
additional chief secretary of Haryana’s ex-CM, thousands crores, benefit-
officer TC Gupta, presently
ing builders, politicians and
Haryana, holding the pow- officers of Town and country
erful Power Department. otHers grilled planning adding that farm-
TC Gupta was director of ers were forced to sell their
Town and Country Planning in road sCaM land at through way price
Department when then at the gunpoint meaning
licence for colonisation was
given on above land when Bhupinder
it was under process of CBI also names IAS officer TC Gupta in Golf
acquisition. Parmod Kumar, Course Road, Gurugram, land acquisition case, Singh Hooda
DSP , CBI, while refusing to has described
share the details of searches writes Pawan Kumar Bansal
and recovery, told Tehelka, raids as part
“We are investigating the the party are happy over the and the Chief Minister for of political
case on the directions of the developments. obvious reasons. It was also
Supreme Court and will sub- CBI sources said, “In highlighted that the CBI vendetta
mit our report to the apex view of the allegations of will soon issue notices to
court.” our special director Rakesh these officers asking them policy of the
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Asthana that our ex-director to explain the procedure government
meanwhile, has described Alok Verma was bribed by for granting colonisation
raids as part of political a Haryana cadre IAS officer licence and as what was
vendetta policy of BJP, add- involved in a scam for hush- hurry in clearing the file threat of acquisition”.
ing that he was not afraid of ing up the case. The case has with jet speed in a single day. Ram Babu Ambavta is
such raids as he was son of become prestige issue for Inclusion of name of TC satisfied with the progress of
a freedom fighter. However, us. We will ensure that the Gupta in the FIR has sent investigations. Jasbir Malik,
the timing of the raid has investigations reaches to its panic waves among other who is contesting case in the
raised question mark over logical conclusion.” IAS officers and officials of Supreme Court, said, “This is
agency’s functioning as In December issue, Te- the Town and Country Plan- a serious case of misuse of
Hooda was to leave for Jind helka had carried a detailed ning Department involved the provisions of the Land
to address a public meet- report about the scam titled in the scam as they fear that Acquisition Act to loot the
ing in support of Congress “CBI looks into Golf Course they may also be questioned farmers for the benefit of
candidate in the Assembly road Gurugram acquisition sooner or later. the builders hoping that CBI
by-election. case. It was reported that the Sources said that these will not be influenced by
While the Congress party file for colonisation licence officers are considering any consideration in view of
is supporting Hooda as its was cleared in a single day option of becoming approv- involvement of top officers,
Haryana in-charge Gulam by the Director of Town and er in the case. Interestingly, politicians and powerful
Nabi Azad has sought all Country Planning Depart- in Manesar land acquisi- builders.”
details of the case, but op- ment, Financial Commis- tion scam, ML Tayal, then
ponents of Hooda within sioner of the department principal secretary of the letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 february 2019 36 www.Tehelka.com