CBI likely to grill ex-Haryana CM Hooda in Huda plot scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to call former Haryana chief minister BS Hooda for questioning in connection with the HUDA industrial plot scam.

The case dates back to 2012 when Hooda was the chief minister of Haryana and chairman of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). Sources said the move comes after the CBI issued a notice to Hooda in this regard. During the interrogation at the CBI headquarters, a clarification will also be sought from Hooda on the same.

Earlier on Saturday, the CBI registered cases against former HUDA officials, 13 beneficiaries and others over alleged irregularities in the allotment of HUDA industrial plots at Panchkula. The former bureaucrats booked by the CBI in this case are D P S Nagal, then Chief Administrator, HUDA; S P Kansal, then Chief Financier, HUDA; and B B Taneja, then Deputy Superintendent, HUDA.

The investigating agency also conducted searches at 16 locations, including Chandigarh, Panchkula, Faridabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Rohtak in connection with the ongoing probe in the case.
Sources said some files were during the raids found either to be ''missing''  or were put in proper ''sequence''.

The industrial plots were allegedly allotted in July 2013 at throwaway prices after changes were made midway in the eligibility criteria on recommendation of a standing committee and approved by Hooda.
Haryana Chief Minster Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier ordered that an FIR be registered by the Vigilance Bureau and then the matter be referred to the CBI for an independent probe.