Expedite trial of industrial plots allotment case against Bhupinder Hooda: Special court

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 1

The court of Special Judge under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Panchkula, today remarked that the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) industrial plot allotment case against former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and 21 others “needs to be taken up speedily and expeditiously”.

As per the ED’s allegations in the case, the industrial plots were illegally allotted in Panchkula at lesser rates than circle rates and market rates by altering the criteria to favour people closer to Hooda.

Special Judge Dr Sushil Kumar Garg reasoned that given the directives issued by the Supreme Court in ‘Public Interest Foundation & Ors Vs Union of India’, and ‘Ashwani Kumar Upadhaya Vs Union of India’, dated September 10, 2020, “the proceedings of all criminal cases and complaints against the former and sitting MPs/MLAs are required to be taken up on urgent basis and an endeavour is to be made by the trial courts to decide the matter speedily and expeditiously”.

He added that the said directions of the apex court were circulated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 17 this year “for strict compliance by the trial courts in the states of Punjab and Haryana and UT Chandigarh”.