The AJL is reportedly controlled by senior Congress leaders, including members of the Gandhi family. The group runs the National Herald newspaper
New Delhi: Days after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a filed a charge sheet against former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress leader Motilal Vora, now
the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached a controversial plot of land in Panchkula, allotted to the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by the Haryana government in 2005, the agency said on Monday.
The AJL is reportedly controlled by senior Congress leaders, including members of the Gandhi family. The group runs the National Herald newspaper.
"The investigation by the ED under the PMLA Act, 2002 has revealed that the plot number C-17, sector 6, Panchkula was allotted to the AJL in the year 1982 as per the request of the company to start ‘Nav-Jivan’ newspaper. As the AJL did not comply with the terms and conditions of the allotment, the estate officer, HUDA, Panchkula vide order dated 30.10.1992 ordered to resume the said Plot on the ground that the allottee i.e. AJL violated the requisite terms and conditions of the allotment letter by not starting the construction and completing the same within stipulated period, " ED said in a press statement.
"A provisional attachment order was issued on December 1, the day CBI filed a charge sheet against former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and others for allegedly using fraudulent means to allot land to AJL," the agency said.
"Since the value of plot fraudulently allowed to AJL has represented proceeds of crime, the ED has attached plot under PMLA act," the statement said.
The plot has been attached under Section 5 of PMLA (attachment of property involved in money-laundering) and further investigation is in the process, officials said.
The CBI charge sheet named Congress leader Motilal Vora besides Hooda in connection with the alleged irregularities in the re-allotment of an institutional plot in Panchkula, Haryana, to the AJL.
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