Gustakhi Maaf Haryana: Pawan Kumar Bansal

Justice Delayed for Farmers in Manesar Land Scam Involving Bhupinder Hooda, Case Faces Further Delay

Background of the Case

The old proverb, “Justice delayed is justice denied,” remains relevant as farmers who were victims of the “Manesar Land Scam” continue to wait for justice. The case, involving former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and several of his trusted IAS officers, has seen no progress for nearly four years. All the accused, including Hooda, are currently out on bail from a Special CBI Court in Panchkula.

Case Hearing Stalled Due to Jurisdiction Issue

The case, which was initially stalled due to various reasons, has faced yet another setback. Recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered that the case hearings should resume, but a new challenge has emerged. The affected accused have filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the jurisdiction of the Special CBI Court to hear the case. The accused argue that, since Bhupinder Singh Hooda is an elected MLA, the case should be heard in an MP-MLA court, rather than the CBI court. This matter has now been referred to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for a final decision, which could cause further delays in the proceedings.

Details of the Manesar Land Scam

The land in question was acquired by the Haryana government for the development of the Industrial Model Town in Manesar. However, when farmers became apprehensive about the acquisition and decided to sell their land to builders, the land was released and the builders were granted licenses for residential colony development. This turn of events has led to widespread allegations of corruption and misuse of power, involving prominent officials, including Hooda and several top IAS officers.

The delay in justice continues to frustrate the affected farmers, who now hope that the judiciary will expedite the case to ensure they receive the justice they deserve.