On Monday, former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and UPSC member Chattar Singh were questioned by the CBI for their alleged connection irregularities in the allotment of 14 industrial plots in Panchkula. Singh was the principal secretary to the Chief Minister when the allotment took place. Singh has been asked to appear before CBI investigators at the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi.
The case concerns the CBI FIR to investigate corruption in the allotment of 14 industrial plots during Hooda’s tenure as chief minister. As per the FIR, industrial plots were given to 14 people by allegedly manipulating certain provisions of the allotment. These included allowing them to submit their applications even after the last date of submission had ended. The FIR accused that 14 plots, ranging from 496 square metres to 1,280 square metres, were allotted at throwaway prices after changes were made midway in the eligibility criteria. The FIR also alleged that ineligible beneficiaries were allotted plots at rates lesser than the prevailing market rates, causing losses of several crores to the state exchequer.
Other than Hooda others named in the FIR are retired IAS officer D P S Nagal, then HUDA chief administrator, SC Kansal, then controller of finance, and B B Taneja, then deputy superintendent of HUDA.
