The CBI has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s February 25 order which held the Panchkula land re-allotment to Associated Journals Limited valid and questioned how the investigating agency could itself declare the re-allotment illegal.
Supreme Court Seeks Response On CBI’s SLP
The Supreme Court on May 4 issued notice on a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The CBI has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court order giving a clean chit to former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Associated Journals Limited in the Panchkula land allotment case.
Associated Journals Limited publishes the Congress newspaper National Herald.
A Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice and made the matter returnable in July.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju appeared for the CBI.
CBI Challenges High Court Order
The CBI has challenged the High Court’s order dated February 25, passed by Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya.
The High Court had held that the re-allotment of land to AJL was valid. It also noted that no authority had declared the re-allotment illegal or cancelled it.
Moreover, the High Court questioned the CBI’s stand. It observed that the investigating agency had itself described the re-allotment as illegal.
The High Court also asked how an investigating agency could make such a determination.
Allegations Relate To Panchkula Plot
According to the CBI, the Haryana Urban Development Authority allotted a plot in Panchkula to AJL in 1982.
The allotment took place on a “No Profit No Loss” basis.
However, the agency alleged that AJL did not carry out construction on the plot for nearly 10 years. Therefore, HUDA later took back possession of the land.
The CBI further claimed that in 2005, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, then Chief Minister of Haryana, recommended restoration of the same plot to AJL.
As per the agency, Hooda recommended restoration at the original price, along with interest due up to the date of restoration.
CBI Refers To HUDA Authority Meeting
The CBI alleged that after Hooda’s recommendation, officials placed the matter before the HUDA Authority.
At that stage, some reservations allegedly arose. According to the agency, the plot should have been re-allotted either at market price or through advertisement.
AJL could then have participated in that process.
However, the CBI claimed that officials did not place these objections before the Authority during the meeting.
Consequently, the Authority approved AJL’s request for restoration of the institutional plot. The agency alleged that no member raised any objection during the meeting.
CBI Alleges Conspiracy And Misuse Of Position
The CBI alleged that Bhupinder Singh Hooda, late Moti Lal Vohra, and AJL acted in conspiracy.
It further claimed that the accused misused official position while restoring the plot.
According to the agency, the re-allotment caused wrongful loss to the State exchequer. It also allegedly gave wrongful gain to the respondents.
Special Court Framed Charges In 2021
In April 2021, the special court framed charges against the accused.
The charges included offences under Sections 120-B and 420 of the Indian Penal Code.
The special court also invoked Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Case Details
Case Title: Central Bureau of Investigation v. Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Anr.
Case Number: SLP(Crl) No. 7634-7635/2026
Court: Supreme Court of India
Bench: Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma
Appearances
For the Petitioner: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General Suryaprakash V. Raju, Mukesh Kumar Maroria, AOR, Zoheb Hossain, Advocate, Annam Venkatesh, Advocate, Sairica S. Raju, Advocate, Astha Singh, Advocate, and Aman Mehta, Advocate.
