Gurgaon farmers rejoice after CBI raids

Farmers here celebrated the CBI raids on Saturday at the Who's Who of Delhi and Haryana's homes and offices. After several years of continuous struggle the farmers rejoiced at the outcome.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the homes and offices of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, two former IAS officers and others over the alleged irregularity in the purchase of 400 acres of land from these farmers.

People in the villages of Manesar, Nakhdola and Naurangpur have expressed happiness and hope that finally they would get justice.

Former Village head and one of the two complainants in the case, Om Prakash Yadav said, "Farmers were cheated by the nexus of ruling political leaders, builders and their agents with full-proof planning."

The CBI raided 20 locations in Delhi and Haryana over the alleged irregularity in the purchase of land from Gurgaon farmers during 2004-2007 at throw away prices causing a loss of over Rs 1,500 crore to the national exchequer.

"We are sure that many people involved in the fraud will have to face jail after fair investigation and trial," said Pradeep Yadav, another affected farmer.

The CBI conducted raids in at least four places in Gurgaon and Manesar, including offices of two realtors.

"Farmers from Manesar, Nakhdola and Naurangpur approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for justice, the court on Dec 17, 2011 ordered for status quo but farmers lost the case on Dec 15,2014," Om Prakash Yadav said.

He said that farmers than approached the Supreme Court, which on April 24, 2015 ordered status quo in the favour of farmers.

An FIR was then registered at Manesar police station on the complaint of Om Prakash Yadav and one Naresh Kumar from Rampura village against unknown political leaders, builders and their agents under various sections of Indian Penal Code on August 12, 2015.

"CBI registered the case on September 15, 2015 and started investigation," Yadav added.

The land whose market value at that time was above Rs 4 crore per acre, totalling about Rs 1,600 crore, was allegedly purchased by the private builders from the land owners in only about Rs 100 crore.

--IANS

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