Manesar land case: ED registers PMLA case against Bhupinder Singh Hooda, others

NEW DELHI: In fresh trouble for former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the ED has registered a money laundering case against him and others in a case of alleged financial irregularities in acquisition of land in Gurgaon's Manesar in which farmers were cheated to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

The ED has filed a criminal complaint against the Congress leader based on a CBI FIR, under which the probe agency conducted searches in Haryana and the national capital last week.

Officials said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case has been made under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act ( PMLA) and the agency has begun identifying the "proceeds of crime" allegedly created illegally as a fallout of the corruption done in the case.

"Summons would be issued to the accused soon. The agency is also looking for assets created out of tainted funds to attach them under PMLA as part of the investigations," they said.

The case pertains to CBI registering a case in this regard last year in September on allegations that private builders in conspiracy with unknown public servants of the Haryana government had purchased around 400 acres of land from farmers and land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula in Gurgaon district at throw away prices, showing the threat of acquisition by the government, during August 27, 2004-August 24, 2007.

It was alleged that a loss of Rs 1,500 crore was caused to the land owners of village Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula of Gurgaon.

During last week's searches at Hooda's residence, CBI had claimed to have found "fund transaction details worth crores of rupees" which are now being scrutinised by the agency.

The ED is expected to seek a copy of these documents from the CBI soon, in order to take its probe forward.