Unplotting a Scam

  • Abhishek Behl / FG
  • India
  • Jul 18, 2014

 

 

Call it 'ignorance' or willful bypassing of the law, hundreds of coveted plots in the state of Haryana have allegedly been gobbled up by high-ranking serving and retired civil servants, defence officials and ‘politically connected’ people – some of whom even gave their address as their political party headquarters! It has been ‘revealed’, during the unravelling of the ‘HUDA plot scam’, that some of these ‘officials’ managed to get dozens of plots under the reserved category - in gross violation of rules. The revelations came after a former army official, SK Sharma, a ‘beneficiary’ and also a property dealer, turned ‘whistle blower’ in the case (ostensibly to clean the stables and the rot in the defence forces). This ‘scam’, on such a large scale, is unlikely to have taken place without the knowledge and connivance of many in the official machinery – maybe to the very top. HUDA is drawing serious flak for favouring the high and mighty, by violating all rules in the book with the help of ‘technicalities’ - which have now been challenged by Gurgaon-based Sharma. The scale of the HUDA plot scam, through a ‘clever’ use of the reserved category, is huge - and is in fact getting ‘bigger’ by the day. Reportedly 973 people have been named in multiple FIRs, ever since the scam was flagged. Sharma alleges that almost 3,000 plots have been illegally obtained under the reserved category by defence personnel. 

Sharma alleges that many beneficiaries, including serving army officers, have received preferential allotment of plots from HUDA multiple times. The rules state that only one plot can be obtained by an officer under the reserved category, and that too once in a lifetime. Most of these plots, which were obtained at highly subsidised rates, were sold within months at much higher market rates by the beneficiaries. It is specifically alleged that two brothers, both retired from the Indian army, managed to get 31 HUDA plots in various cities of Haryana! Sharma, who is a third generation retired army officer, says that he first complained against five people, all from the defence forces, who had obtained 4 to 5 plots each from HUDA under reserved category. These included Narender Yadav, Dharamvir Chikara, HS Yadav, Ramesh Chander Bansal and Col Aman Yadav. In 2011, HUDA allegedly cancelled the allotment of plots to these officials. The Chief Administrator, HUDA directed Estate Officers across Haryana to cancel these plots and register a case against the persons under Sections 193/420 of the Indian Penal Case. However, Sharma says, no action was initiated by the Estate Officers, and he was forced to file an RTI. The Estate officers in Rohtak and Hissar were elusive and vague. Further queries revealed that the scam was much bigger, and one of the beneficiaries, Narender Yadav, had managed to get five plots (2 in Gurgaon, 1 in Faridabad, 1 in Karnal and one in Rewari) - out of which 4 had already been sold and the last one had been kept for residential purpose. Even though this plot had been cancelled, Yadav managed to obtain a stay against the cancellation. Interestingly, an incident of fire in the vehicle of an Estate Officer in Gurgaon, in 2012, led to the burning of certain files, after which Yadav claimed that the cancelled plot had been bought under the general category, alleges Sharma. 

When he realized that no action was being taken against the ‘illegal beneficiaries’, Sharma decided to file hundreds of RTIs with the government, HUDA and other agencies, which revealed that there were hundreds of other defence officials who had willfully and wrongly obtained multiple plots from HUDA under the reserved category. A majority of these plots had been sold off immediately; and this process was repeated multiple times. Almost 95 per cent of the officials named in the FIRs are commissioned officers - only 5 per cent are other ranks or jawans. Sharma says that he blew the whistle in this case because he wants to clear the rot in the defence forces. “I am going to write to the Defence minister and government officers to take cognizance of this crime, as several officials involved in this scam hold vital posts and command units,” he asserts. Soon after his taking up this issue more information started pouring in from different quarters, and on April 7, 2013 he filed the complaint with the CM’s Flying Squad - a special police team that reports directly to the Chief Minister of Haryana. An enquiry was ordered. It was also revealed that 32 more persons, and thereafter 56 more, were involved in getting HUDA plots under the reserved category by making false statements. An initial list captured 307 plots that had been obtained by 90 beneficiaries. The CM’s Flying Squad then registered an FIR against the accused, who managed to get interim bails. It was also allegedly contended by the Yadav brothers (who had managed to get the maximum number of plots in this case) that they were not alone in violating the law. This led to an expansion in the scope of the investigation, and the High Court then took suo moto cognizance of the case and asked the investigating agency and HUDA to dig deeper. However, again, Sharma alleges that while the investigating agencies are doing their work, HUDA has not been transparent. This has led to multiple delays and alleged obstruction of evidence. “I don’t know whether there is political pressure or pressure from influential people involved in this case, but HUDA is very slow in coming out with the facts and figures,” Sharma alleges. In December 2013, despite HUDA’s ‘non co-operation’, Sharma was able to provide the names of 56 more beneficiaries to the Court. “After the intervention of the High Court, the police has filed 402 FIRs against 973 persons, but still no action has been taken by the authorities,” says Sharma. While the Court has directed that no arrest should be made in this case, he is shocked that no action is being taken to even cancel the allotment of the fraudulently obtained plots. Interestingly, the Supreme Court has come down heavily on such malpractices and has refused to give any benefit to people who have bought plots that were (initially) obtained in a wrongful manner. One such reserved category plot, which was bought by one Rakesh Agarwal in Sirsa from a former defence official, was later cancelled by HUDA. This led to Agarwal approaching the Court with the plea that he had not known that this plot was ‘illegal’, and he had therefore not committed any violation. The High Court however said that it could give him any benefit as the plot in question had been wrongfully obtained. When the case went to the Supreme Court, the petition was dismissed at the first hearing itself – concurring with the HC Order. Sharma says that when even the Supreme Court has made it clear that there would no tolerance of any violation of such rules, why is the government agency reluctant to take action?

In the latest salvo fired by Sharma against the government agency, he has now accused two senior HUDA officials of collusion in the multiple allotments of plots in the reserved category. This is based on an RTI filed by him. As per the RTI information, HUDA Estate Officer (EO)-II (Gurgaon), Narender Yadav, who was EO-Faridabad in 2008, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Sirsa), Shiv Prasad Sharma, were aware of certain allotments made to the same people within a span of two days. Sharma says that six plots were allotted to three former army officials, and those officials then sold/were allowed to sell these plots in the market. Sharma wants action to be taken against the two HUDA officials, as per the undertaking given by Chief Administrator AK Singh, that strict action would taken against any HUDA official who was found guilty in this scam. He contends that it is the job of the Estate Officers to get affidavits from the allottees and to verify the claims made by them. How can two plots be given to one person in a span of two days, and the concerned HUDA official did not know this, he asks? Sharma adds that a senior bureaucrat, who has served at important posts in the State govt., has been allotted multiple plots under reserved category in Gurgaon. 

All these skeletons will tumble out in the course of the investigation, Sharma says. It seems he has unbottled a genie, which threatens to claim many serving and former defence and State officials. It pains him that these same HUDA officials often cancel the plots of war widows, blind persons and several ‘genuine’ others on flimsy or specious grounds. In the course of this ‘fight’, which has assumed massive proportions, Sharma has come under severe pressure and has also been threatened. He states that he would not be cowed down by threats and attacks. He has been given security by the govt. Sharma asserts that he will not rest till this ‘scam’ is unravelled completely and the culprits brought to book. He would like to take this case to its ‘rightful’ conclusion. 




Sharma says that as per the reply to his RTI, it can be ascertained that HCS officer Shiv Prasad Sharma had issued an allotment letter to Zile Singh for two plots (viz. No. 92 in Sector 65 and No. 274 in Sector 64, Faridabad). He also issued plot 402 in Sector 62 to Ram Chander, who was later also issued plot 610 in Sector 64 by Narender Yadav. Sharma further alleges that Yadav issued allotment letters to Arvind Nain for plots 257 and 393 in Sectors 64 and 62 during his tenure in 2008.


Read More...


  • print
  • comnt
  • share

News from Communities

lowadd
  • Friday Gurgaon Seminar

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2014/8/2014_8$thumbimg129_Aug_2014_160822730.jpgOrange Fish
  • Gurgaon Speaks Up-Rest in Peace ''Damini''-Saturday Dec 29 @ Leisure Valley

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2013/1/2013_1$thumbimg104_Jan_2013_143656130.jpgOrange Fish
  • Genesis Foundation Fund Raiser

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/8/2012_8$thumbimg114_Aug_2012_091411630.jpgOrange Fish
  • Coca Cola Cricket trophy played in Gurgaon

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg117_Mar_2012_180857977.jpgOrange Fish
  • Union Budget 2012

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg116_Mar_2012_123404760.jpgOrange Fish
  • Union Budget 2012

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg116_Mar_2012_122004320.jpgOrange Fish
  • Renge Art Walk

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/3/2012_3$thumbimg102_Mar_2012_095312690.jpgOrange Fish
  • Friday Gurgaon Cricket team

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/2/2012_2$thumbimg119_Feb_2012_195202840.jpgOrange Fish
  • Genesis Fundraiser Gurgaon

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/1/2012_1$thumbimg129_Jan_2012_072409630.jpgOrange Fish
  • Gurgaon

    http://fridaygurgaon.com/arap_media_cms/gall_content/2012/1/2012_1$thumbimg102_Jan_2012_165747220.jpgOrange Fish

Latest Issue

Poll

Do you think government should reconsider its policy of promoting liquor vends in Gurgaon?



votebox View Results