Haryana Lokayukta recommends graft case against legislator

Haryana's Lokayukta Tuesday recommended the registration of a case of corruption against Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ram Kishan Fauji in a cash-for-land use licence scandal.

The Lokayukta also said the investigation be conducted by a senior police officer.

The order from Lokayukta Justice (retd) Pritam Pal came following a complaint, along with a video CD showing Fauji allegedly demanding Rs.5 crore from the complainant to get him a change of land use (CLU) licence from the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government.

The complainant had done a sting operation last year on Fauji, a Congress legislator from the Bhiwani Khera (reserved) assembly seat.

Recommending registration of a case against Fauji under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Lokayukta said that prima facie Fauji "committed a cognizable offence" punishable under the provisions of the Act.

He said two people have alleged that Fauji made the demand for Rs.5 crore in lieu of helping them get a CLU for a 70-80 room hotel to be constructed on four acres of land located eight km from Gurgaon on the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

The Lokayukta order asked authorities to register a corruption case against Fauji.

It said a "senior, competent police officer, enjoying the reputation of having impeccable integrity" be deputed to investigate the case.

The opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) had released CDs of some Haryana Congress legislators, including Fauji, and their kin last year in which they were shown making deals to procure land use certificates from the government.

INLD leader Abhay Chautala demanded Hooda's resignation, saying the Lokayukta's order has exposed corruption by ruling Congress leaders.

In September last year Hooda said his government has referred the issue of the CDs to the Lokayukta for investigation.

Other legislators whose CDs were released included Vinod Bhayaina, Naresh Selwal, Sampat Singh, Ram Niwas Ghorela, Jaleb Khan and Jarnail Singh.

CLU licences are a big attraction in Haryana, particularly in districts adjoining national capital New Delhi, due to real estate prices. Haryana surrounds Delhi on three sides, including Gurgaon district.