CHANDIGARH: The directions of the Supreme Court passed on Wednesday for another CBI probe regarding one more land scam during Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s regime has come as a big blow to the political ambitions of the former CM.
The order has come at a time when he has been struggling hard to take control of the Congress party in the state.
With Wednesday’s directions, there are a total of five CBI cases and two cases by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) pending against Hooda.
In some cases, he has been charge-sheeted and the trials are pending before the special court, Panchkula.
While some of these cases were registered against Hooda on directions of the Supreme Court, others were referred to the central agencies by the BJP led state government.
However, the new case would not only give fresh ammunition to the opposition parties in the state but also to other factions in the Haryana Congress who are aspiring to lead the party by replacing him.
Factionalism in the Haryana Congress has led to a situation where different groups can be seen working individually rather than as one party.
Other groups may now demand the Congress high command to appoint an “untainted” and “clean” face in the state.
According to political analysts, Hooda could have easily claimed political vendetta as far as registration of criminal cases by CBI during the present BJP regime but his troubles are the orders and scathing remarks made by the Supreme Court while directing CBI probes in some cases.
The fresh CBI case, as ordered by the SC on Wednesday, has come at a time when Hooda has been rigorously pursuing his case before the Congress high command for giving him the command of the party in the state.
Hooda is currently one of the most influential leaders in Haryana’s politics and leader of opposition in the state assembly.
He has served as the CM for two terms and is also credited for the victory of 31 seats for the party in the 2019 state assembly polls.
Despite having the support of most of the MLAs and strongholds in most of the parts of the state, Hooda has been facing stiff opposition within his party from several internal groups.
It was perhaps the only reason that most of his supporter MLAs and leaders have been seeking an independent role for him in the party’s state affairs.
There is also speculation that he may form a regional outfit in case the Congress high command failed to give him any importance.
However, people in the Hooda camp have been denying this.
Besides the major backing of the Jat community, Hooda enjoys huge support from all castes in the state.
The sources also added that Hooda may now be engaged in such a large number of probes by central agencies and trial of cases, his son and only Rajya Sabha member of Congress party from Haryana, Political experts are of the view that at a time when INLD is struggling hard for its survival and BJP’s coalition partner JJP is facing stiff opposition because of farmers’ agitation, Hooda is the only leader who can fill the vacuum in the state.
LEGAL CASES KNOTS AGAINST TYING HOODA LEADER & THEIR OF STATUS OPPN Manesar land scamALLEGATIONS: Hundreds of acres of land acquired from farmers in Manesar and adjoining villages in Gurgaon district at a low rate for “public purpose” were later licensed to real estate companies/builders/ colonizers after bestowing out-of-term favours and concessions.
On September 17, 2015, CBI registered an FIR.
STATUS: Chargesheet filed, matter pending for trial Panchkula Industrial Plot Allotment ScamALLEGATIONS: Industrial plots were given to 14 people by allegedly manipulating certain provisions of allotment.
The FIR also alleged that ineligible beneficiaries were allotted plots at rates lesser than the prevailing market rates, causing loss to the state exchequer.
FIR was registered on May 16, 2016 in which Hooda has been booked for being chairman of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).
CBI and ED both are probing this case.
STATUS: ED has filed chargesheet, trial pending before the special court Rohtak Land Acquisition Scam (Uddar-Gagan Case)ALLEGATIONS: HUDA proposed to acquire around 850 acres in 2002.
In April 2003, only 441 acres were acquired and the remaining land was released to private builders for developing a colony.
STATUS: SC orders CBI probe on July 7 AJL Plot Allotment CaseALLEGATIONS: An industrial plot at Panchkula was illegally reallotted to Associated Journal Ltd (AJL), which is reportedly controlled by senior Congress leaders, including the Gandhi family through Young India Ltd.
The allegations are that by abusing his position and against the legal opinion of authorities and advice of Legal Remembrancer for re-advertising the said plot, the plot was reallotted to AJL by Hooda in 2005 at original rates plus interest.
STATUS: Charge-sheet filed by CBI, trial pending.
ED probe in the same case, charge-sheet filed, trial currently stayed by the high court Ullahwas Land ScamALLEGATIONS: The then government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda had released around 95 percent of the 1,417-acre land to private builders and even granted licenses to builders for developing housing projects.
Out of the total 1,400-acre land only around 87 acres left with HUDA and that too was proposed for providing public utilities like a hospital, a power station, a fire station and a police station etc for the benefit of the private builders.
The acquired land belonged to Badshapur, Behrampur, Nangli Umarpura, Tigra, Ullahwas, Kadarpur, Ghatta and Medawas villages in Gurgaon.
In November 2017, the Supreme Court (SC) had directed the CBI to register a case.
STATUS: On January 23, 2019, CBI had booked Hooda and others.
Investigation of the case is pending.