Page 35 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

Bail to Hooda sions. Haryana’s BJP government er re-allotted to AJL in the year 2005 ing Hooda’s regime. In this case

acquired land from the farmers
under Manohar Lal then ordered CBI
as soon as Hooda came to power in
but worries enquiries in Manesar land scam in Haryana. The re-allotment of plot was released to private builders to
was not just illegal, but again caused develop a colony.
September 2015.
The CBI case is bound to spell
huge loss to the state exchequer.
Noticing Hooda’s discomfiture
two other Haryana Congress lead-
deep trouble for the former chief
The piece of land involving AJL
far from over minister of Haryana. With Haryana was acquired by the company for ers of Haryana have started making
their presence felt more in public.
59.3 lakh while its market value at
assembly elections scheduled to be
that point was close to 23 crore. In-
MLA and AICC media spokesperson
held next year, Hooda’s conviction
may possibly put an end to his po-
ed to be eying to fill the possible va-
litical career. cidentally Congress chief minister Randeep Singh Surjewala is report-
Bhupinder Singh Hooda had allot-
Hooda is not just haunted by ted land measuring 3,363 square cancy created by Hooda in case he
The veteran Congress leader is facing three CBI probes — the Manesar land scam. Panchkula metres to the National Herald gets convicted in near future.
Haryana assembly elections may
involving the Manesar land scam, Panchkula Industrial industrial plot allotment scam also (AJL) in a prime locality, Sector 6 of be one and a half years away, but
stares at him in the face. In this case Panchkula, for a mere 59.3 lakh.
Plot scam and Associated Journal Limited plot industrial plots were given to 14 The market price of the piece of sources say Surjewala is trying to
re-allotment scam — that have potential to harm people by allegedly manipulating land at that time was around 23 establish himself as the tallest Jat
some provisions of allotment. crore. All rules seem to have been leader in Haryana to wrest initia-
his political career, writes rajendra khatry These included allowing the ap- tive from both Hooda and Leader of
plicants to submit their applications opposition Abhay Singh Chautala of
special CBI court cal opponents. Bhupinder Singh even after the last date of submit- At present, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
in Haryana has Hooda, being one of the strongest ting them. Later a FIR was filed in Bhupinder Singh Surjewala is holding regular pub-
granted bail to for - leaders in Haryana, has become the case which alleged that even in- lic rallies, at least twice a week. He
mer Haryana Chief a victim of the BJP’s political ven- eligible applicant were allotted plots Hooda’s hold has a good following in the state and
Minist
A er Bhupin - detta. “We have full faith on judici- by the Hooda government at lower manages massive crowds like Hoo-
der Sindh Hooda in the `1,500 ary and we know it will be fair in rates than the prevailing market on the Haryana da and Abhay Chautala.
crore Manesar land scam but this case as well. Hooda is a veteran prices. This again caused huge loss Congress is In the last few months Surjew-
his worries are far from over. leader and is not going to be cowed to the exchequer. ala has held as many as 56 public
Though he puts up a brave down by such vindictive threats,” Since Bhupinder Singh Hooda unshakeable. But rallies in different districts of the
face and told mediapersons in says Mann. was also the chairman of the Har- if he is convicted, state. He is reported to have drawn
Chandigarh that it is vendetta. But that’s easier said than done. yana Urban Development Author- good crowd response as well in his
The case appears to be far too In the Manesar case, the Supreme ity (HUDA), he too booked in the the Congress rallies.
serious. Court recently set aside the August case. According to sources, the CBI will need his At present Bhupinder Singh
The veteran Congress leader is 24, 2007, order of Bhupinder Singh has almost completed its probe in Hooda’s hold on the Haryana Con-
embroiled in three CBI cases, in- Hooda led Congress government Panchkula Industrial Plot Allot- replacement gress is unshakeable. Majority of
cluding the Manesar land scam, in Haryana to drop land acquisi- ment scam. Chargesheet is likely to the party MLAs support him except
Panchkula Industrial Plot scam tion proceedings against private be filed soon. HPCC president Dr Ashok Tanwar
and Associated Journal Limited builders in Manesar. Allegations are Another case staring Hooda in flouted in the allotment, according and CLP leader Kiran Choudhry.
(AJL) plot re-allotment scam. There that hundreds of acres of land was the face is AJL plot allotment issue. to Ram Bilas Sharma, Haryana’s But in the case of his conviction the
are other cases as well. All these acquired from farmers of Manesar Here the allegation is that an indus- Education minister. Congress will need another leader
cases are of very serious nature and adjoining villages in Gurgaon trial plot in Panchkula was re-allot- In the AJL case, Hooda is facing to rally around. Perhaps Randeep
and have the potential to put him district at a low cost for public pur- ted illegally to the Associated Jour- money laundering charges in plot Surjewala could be that leader.
behind bars if the court finds him pose when Bhupinder Singh Hooda nal Ltd (AJL) which runs the National allotment. In the year 2017 the CBI Similarly INLD’s Abhay Chau-
guilty. was chief Minister of Haryana from Herald newspaper. registered a FIR in the case. Both the tala has been holding rallies in the
However, Haryana Congress 2005 to 2014. But later the same As is well known, AJL is report- CBI and the Enforcement Directo- name of getting SYL canal water for
Spokesman Rann Singh Mann land was sold to real estate compa- edly controlled by senior Con - rate are probing the case now. Haryana. Last year Chautala even
says BJP governments, whether in nies at a much lower price causing gress leaders of the Gandhi fam- As if all these cases were not courted arrest when he tried to
states or at the Centre are known huge losses to the state. ily through Young India Limited. enough to tie down Hooda, the pre- forcibly enter Punjab to dig the SYL
for witch hunt against all politi- When the Congress was in Incidentally, the Young India Ltd. sent BJP government under Mano- canal with the help of his party sup-
power in Haryana under Hooda had been founded by late Prime har Lal Khattar recently ordered porters. Chautala knows that water
and UPA at the centre everything Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. handing over two more alleged is a very emotional issue and people
• Trouble ahead With Haryana assembly was fine. But once the NDA came to Hooda is alleged to have over- land scams of his home constitu- can be rallied in the name of SYL
elections scheduled to be held next year, power, questions began to be asked looked the advice of even the ency Rohtak and Sonepat to the CBI canal water.
Hooda’s conviction in land scams may why were the colonizers given Haryana Legal Remembrancer to for investigation. The alleged land
possibly put an end to his political career out of turn favours and conces - re-advertise the plot which was lat- scams reportedly took place dur- letters@tehelka.com

tehelka / 15 may 2018 34 www.tehelka.com tehelka / 15 may 2018 35 www.tehelka.com

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