A special CBI court in Panchkula has commenced trial proceedings against former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other accused in the HUDA industrial plots allotment case. The court is currently scrutinizing the chargesheet presented by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Chargesheet Presented and Scrutiny Underway
On April 28, the CBI submitted a voluminous chargesheet before Special CBI Judge Vijyant Sehgal, naming Hooda as the prime accused and others as co-accused. The court has directed its staff to examine and verify the chargesheet along with supporting documents, with a report expected by June 4, the next hearing date. Summoning of the accused will commence only after the scrutiny is complete.
Prosecution Sanctions and Pending Approvals
The CBI has filed prosecution sanction against Hooda, approved by the Haryana government on April 15, alongside the chargesheet against him and co-accused B B Taneja. However, sanction to prosecute other accused, including former HUDA Chief Administrator D P S Nagal and then Chief Controller of Finance S C Kansal, is still pending. The court has instructed the agency to update it once the necessary approvals are obtained.
Background of the Case
In December 2015, the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Hooda, Nagal, Kansal, and Taneja, a former Deputy Superintendent, regarding the allotment of 14 plots in the industrial area of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). The investigation was later transferred to the CBI. In May 2016, the agency filed a case, indicting 13 beneficiaries of the plots. The accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Enforcement Directorate Investigation
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) also initiated an investigation and filed a chargesheet against Hooda and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, the trial in the PMLA case was halted in May 2024 as the CBI had not yet filed its chargesheet.
