ED launches money laundering probe against Bhupinder Singh Hooda

The Enforcement Directorate has launched money laundering investigations against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others in case of alleged wrongful “re-allotment” of a plot to Associated Journals Limited (AJL) at Panchkula in 2005. AJL also owns National Herald.

The Haryana Police had registered a case in the matter two months back. According to police, AJL had been allotted the plot in 1982 for running its Hindi newspaper Navjeevan. However, the construction work was not completed, due to which the allotment was cancelled in 1992. AJL appealed against the cancellation, which was rejected.

In 1998, AJL again petitioned the then Chief Minister of Haryana, who turned it down. However, it is alleged that, Mr. Hooda, who came to power in 2004, decided to re-allot the same piece of land to AJL in 2005 on the 1982 rate despite reservations from the departments concerned.

The departments said since the allotment had been cancelled, a fresh advertisement had to be given. They also pointed out that re-allotment of the same plot to AJL at the 1982 rate would amount to Rs.65 lakh loss to the exchequer. However, it is alleged that Mr. Hooda got the land allotted to AJL. Initially, the company was given six months to complete the construction work.

“It is alleged that on Mr. Hooda’s instructions, AJL was given one extension after the other. In 2013, the construction was completed. However, Navjeevan for which the allotment was made had already closed down. Accordingly, investigations are under way to ascertain the alleged irregularities in the whole process,” said an official.