Frame charges against Hooda, orders CBI court

PANCHKULA: Stating that it has enough materials to presume that the former chief minister has committed offences, the special court of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Haryana, has ordered framing of charges against Bhupinder Singh Hooda in the alleged illegal allotment of a plot in Panchkula to Associated Journal Limited (AJL), the publisher of National Herald newspaper.

The court dismissed an application filed by Hooda, seeking discharge and said that the allegations are “specific”. “Whether or not those allegations are true, is a matter which cannot be determined at the stage of framing of charges. Any such determination can take place only at the conclusion of the trial,” special judge, CBI court, Sushil Kumar Garg said. On Friday, the court had framed charges against Hooda and AJL.

Hooda had argued that the

CBI had failed to show any “dishonest intention” on his part and that re-allotment of the plot can be treated as an “error of judgment” which may be a civil claim. However, the court said that the argument has no force because “dishonest intention” of Hooda cannot be gathered from “the vacuum”, but from the facts and circumstances of the case. It took note of public prosecutor KP Singh’s argument that Hooda had full knowledge of everything but despite it all, he re-allotted the said plot to AJL, which allegedly revealed the dishonest intention on his part.

Hooda had also argued that there is “no conflict of interest” and “no personal or institutional bias” in favour of AJL. “It is crystal clear that both accused belonged to the same party and M/s AJL is also associated with the Congress,” the court observed, taking note of CBI’S argument that accused Motilal Vora (since deceased) was a veteran politician of the Congress party, which came into power in Haryana in 2005.