View source for AJL-National Herald Panchkula land grab case

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox court case
| name               = AJL-National Herald Panchkula land grab scam case
| court              = [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]]
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| keywords           = [[List of scandals in India|Political scams in India]]
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[[File:Bhupinder_Singh_Hooda_in_WEF,_2010.jpg|thumb|Bhupinder Singh Hooda in 2010]]

'''AJL-National Herald Panchkula land grab scam case''', allegedly against [[Bhupinder Singh Hooda]] currently in the [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]], is under investigation by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI) and [[Enforcement Directorate]] (ED).<ref name=chor6/> This case pertains to Hooda's alleged role for misusing his position as then [[Chief Minister of Haryana]] to cause wrongful gains to the [[National Herald scam|Associated Journals Limited]] (AJL) and corresponding loss to the [[Government of Haryana]], by illegally allotting a government plot of land worth several crores rupees (billions) to AJL for INR 59 lakh (5.9 million).<ref name=chor6/> Then Chief Minister, Hooda, was also the chairman of [[Haryana Urban Development Authority|HUDA]], a government entity which re-allotted the plot to AJL in 2005 in violations of rules and against the advise of the HUDA officials.<ref name=ajl21/><ref name=ajl20/><ref name=chor6/> Chief Minister [[Manohar Lal Khattar]]'s [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] government of Haryana transferred the case to CBI, and CBI filed the FIR in April 2016.<ref name=ajl20>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhupinder-hooda-ajl-land-allotment-cbi-case-4601883/ CBI files case against Bhupinder Hooda in AJL land allotment probe], [[Indian Express]], 6 April 2017.</ref><ref name=ajl21/> CBI booked Hooda for [[Conspiracy (criminal)|criminal conspiracy]], [[Penal Code (Singapore)#Criminal breach of trust|criminal breach of trust]], [[Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code|cheating]] and [[Political corruption|misuse of official position by public servants]].<ref name=ajl21>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/crime/cbi-registers-fir-against-ex-haryana-cm-hooda-in-ajl-land-allotment-case/387977.html CBI registers FIR against ex-Haryana CM Hooda in AJL land allotment case], [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] (India), 6 April 2017.</ref> AJL, which also owns [[National Herald (India)|National Herald]], is controlled by the [[Indian National Congress]] leaders [[Sonia Gandhi]] and [[Rahul Gandhi]] among others.<ref name=ajl21/><ref name=ajl1/><ref name=ajl2/><ref name=ajl3/><ref name=ajl6/><ref name=ajl8/>

AJL was not legally entitled for the allotment.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} Plot was originally allotted to AJL in 1982.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} As per the rules{{Clarify|reason=What rules are these?|date=December 2018|text=}}, ownership was repossessed by the government in 1992 due to non-construction by AJL within the mandatory period. AJL's applications to have the plot re-allotted were dismissed in 1995 and again in 1996.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} AJL waited for a favorable entity to come to power for getting the re-allotment.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} When Hooda became Chief Minister in 2005, he illegally re-allotment the plot to the AJL.<ref name=chor6>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hooda-misused-post-to-give-land-to-ajl-ed/articleshow/59674810.cms Hooda misused post to give land to AJL: ED], [[Times of India]], 20 Jul 2017.</ref>

There are 6 CBI cases and several other vigilance department investigations against Hooda underway.<ref name=chor5>[https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/punjab-and-haryana/chandigarh/bhupendra-singh-hooda-to-face-cbi-probe-in-two-more-cases/articleshow/63288447.cms Hooda under investigation by CBI in several cases], [[Navbharat Times]], 13 Mar 2018.</ref> [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] is investigating several scams, mostly related to illegal land grab, that took place during his rule in Haryana. These investigations include the [[Gurugram-Manesar IMT land scam]], [[Robert Vadra DLF land grab scam]], [[Gurugram Rajiv Gandhi Trust land grab scam]], [[Sonepat-Kharkhoda IMT land scam case]], [[Garhi Sampla Uddar Gagan land scam]], [[Panchkula-HUDA Industrial plots allotment scam]], [[Haryana Forestry scam case]] and [[Haryana Raxil drug purchase scam]].  He has been already [[chargesheet]]ed in the Manesar-Gurugram land scam, while other cases are still under investigation (c. March 2018).<ref name=chor1>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/cbi-to-probe-two-more-hooda-govt-land-deals/557679.html CBI to probe two more Hooda govt land deals], [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]], 14 March 2018.</ref><ref name=chor5/>

==Details==

===Modus of scam===
{{Blockquote
|text=''"[Bhupinder Singh Hooda] misused his position and caused wrongful gains to the AJL and corresponding loss to the state exchequer."'' 
|author=[[Enforcement Directorate]]
|source=<ref name=chor6/>}}

In this [[National Herald scam#National Herald Panchkula land grab scam|AJL-National Herald Panchkula land grab scam]], the Congress government gave the National Herald 3,500 square meters of plot number C-17 in Sector 6 of [[Panchkula]] in Haryana in 1982 [during [[Bhajan Lal]]'s [[Indian National Congress]] rule] to publish a newspaper, but for ten years, there was no newspaper published from here. Hence, as per the rules the land should have been returned to the government, but the ownership was illegally transferred to AJL/[[National Herald (India)|National Herald]] by Hooda government in 2013. This case and National Herald's possession of INR 2000 crores worth land are being currently investigated by the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (c. December 2017).<ref name=scam1>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=hi&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fperformindia.com%2Fland-fraud-of-gandhi-family%2F Rahul ji! See how Gandhi family has grabbed thousands of acres of farmers], [http://performindia.com/ Perform India], 7 Dec 2017.</ref>  Against the advise of HUDA officials to re-advertise the plot for auction and to honor the legal precedence/remembrance (prior rejections of AJL's application for the re-allotment), Hooda re-allotted it to AJL in 2005 at the original 1982 rates with interest.<ref name=ajl21/>

===Applicable sections of penal code===
FIR, filed on the complaint of Haryana State Vigilance Bureau's [[deputy superintendent]], Ashok Kumar, has following sections of the [[Indian Penal Code]]: Sections 409, 420 and 120-B.<ref name=ajl21/> CBI's DSP, R.S. Gunjiyal, was mentioned in FIR the investigating officer (IO) of the case.<ref name=ajl21/>

===Investigating agencies===
Case was initially investigated by the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau, then taken over by the ED and CBI.<ref name=ajl21/>

===Persons under investigation===
CBI's FIR mentions then chairman of HUDA, which is Bhupinder Singh Hooda.<ref name=ajl21/><ref name=ajl20/> ED has also questioned both Hooda and [[Motilal Vora]] who were confronted with the ceased documents in this case.<ref name=ajl22>[https://www.news18.com/news/india/ed-questions-motilal-vohra-hooda-over-ajl-land-allotment-in-panchukula-1378591.html ED Questions Motilal Vohra, Hooda Over AJL Land Allotment in Panchukula], [[News18]], 20April 2017.</ref>

==Current status==
On 1 December 2018, CBI filed the chargesheet against Hooda, Moti Lal Vohra and AJL Ltd for the allotment of 3360 sqm plot in Sector 6 in 2005 in violation of the rules. As per the chargesheet, the plot was originally allotted in 1982, but allotment automatically lapsed as no construction was carried out within the prescribed ten years, resulting in [[Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran|HUDA]] (now called HSVP) retaking the ownership of the plot in 1992. Chargesheet states that Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was then chairman of HUDA and chief minister of Haryana, re-allotted the plot in 2005 at 1982 price with interest by violating the rules, resulting in loss of INR 620,000 to the govt of Haryana.<ref name=chargesheet1>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbi-files-chargesheet-against-ex-haryana-cm-bhupinder-singh-hooda-congress-leader-motilal-vora-in-ajl-land-allotment-case/articleshow/66893311.cms CBI files chargesheet against ex-Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress leader Motilal Vora in AJL land allotment case], Economic Times, 1 December 2018.</ref> On 3 December 2018, ED also [[Attachment (law)|attached]] the said plot under the [[Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002|Prevention of Money Laundering Act]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2020-04-21|title=Congress president Rahul Gandhi to attend relaunch of AJL's Hindi newspaper at Mohali today|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-president-rahul-gandhi-to-attend-relaunch-ajl-s-hindi-newspaper-at-mohali-on-monday/story-HhFR6mntnbn6of3xt0XQXK.html|date=10 December 2018|website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

In a big blow to the Gandhis, the Enforcement Directorate permanently attached properties worth Rs.64 crore in the National Herald land grab Case in May 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/national-herald-case-ed-attaches-part-of-bandra-building-worth-rs-16-crore/story-aNW0NfqNhfZB30kUuOD3YM.html|title=National Herald case: ED attaches part of Bandra building worth Rs 16 crore|first=Pratik|last=Salunke|date=9 May 2020|publisher=The Hindustan Times|accessdate=5 June 2020|archive-date=5 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605173811/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/national-herald-case-ed-attaches-part-of-bandra-building-worth-rs-16-crore/story-aNW0NfqNhfZB30kUuOD3YM.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Releated AJL scam cases==
A separate AJL owned [[National Herald scam]] case against [[Sonia Gandhi]] and [[Rahul Gandhi]] is going on in the Supreme court, filed by [[Subramanian Swamy]], for the alleged criminal misappropriation by both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in which the courts have determined that a prima face case has been established.<ref name=ajl1>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/court-summons-sonia-gandhi-rahul-in-national-herald-land-grab-case_942922.html|title=Court summons Sonia Gandhi, Rahul in National Herald land grab case|publisher=ZEE NEWS | date=26 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=ajl2>{{citation|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-court-summons-sonia-rahul-in-national-herald-case/article6151487.ece |title=Delhi court summons Sonia, Rahul in National Herald case |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=27 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=ajl3>{{Citation|title = Section 269T in The Income- Tax Act, 1995|url = http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1517955/|website = indiankanoon.org|accessdate = 2015-12-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lobis.nic.in/ddir/dhc/SUG/judgement/07-12-2015/SUG07122015CRLMM33322014.pdf |title=CRL.M.C.3332/2014 & Crl.M.A.11550/2014 |publisher=lobis.nic.in|date=7 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=ajl4>{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/289449/swamy-accuses-sonia-rahul-property.html |title=Swamy accuses Sonia, Rahul of property fraud |work=Deccan Herald |date=1 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=ajl5>{{cite web|author=Sanjay Singh |url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/swamy-does-a-kejriwal-targets-sonia-rahul-for-landgrab-511644.html |title=Swamy does a Kejriwal, targets Sonia & Rahul for landgrab |publisher=Firstpost |date=1 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=ajl6>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/what-is-the-national-herald-case-all-about/1/541733.html|title=What is the National Herald case all about?|publisher=[[India Today]]| date=8 December 2015}}</ref> Associated Journals Limited is an unlisted public company limited by shares,<ref name=ajl7>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/national-herald-case-loan-write-off-conflict-of-interest-benefiting-takeover-by-family/|title=National Herald case: Loan write-off, conflict of interest, benefiting takeover by family|publisher=[[The Indian Express]]|date=9 December 2015}}</ref> ownership of which was transferred to Young India in 2011.<ref name=ajl8>{{citation|title=Real estate at core of Associated Journals controversy|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/bUEeUUtEit7aZjGNZEK6ZL/Real-estate-at-core-of-Associated-Journals-controversy.html|publisher=Live Mint|date=14 November 2012|location=[[New Delhi]]/[[Bangalore]]}}</ref><ref name=ajl9>{{citation|title=Full text: Sonia, Rahul accused of grabbing Rs 1,600 cr property|url=http://firstpost.com/politics/full-text-swamy-accuses-rahul-sonia-of-fraud-511434.html|date=1 November 2012|publisher=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref> AJL published the [[The National Herald (India)|''National Herald'' newspaper]] and also owns real estate worth at {{INRConvert|50|b}} in various cities including New Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Mumbai, Indore, Patna and Panchkula.<ref name=ajl10>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-nittygritty-of-the-national-herald-case/article7967367.ece|title=The nitty-gritty of 'The National Herald' case|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=10 December 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Corruption in India]]
* [[National Herald scam]]
* [[Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust#Controversies|Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust land grab cases]]
* [[Robert Vadra#Controversies|Robert Vadra land grab cases]]
* [[List of scandals in India|List of scams in India]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Alleged scams in India}}
{{Scams and confidence tricks}}

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