Trouble seems to be mounting for the former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as Haryana Governor SN Arya has sanctioned to prosecute him in the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) case on illegal re-allotment of land to the promoters of an English daily, National Herald.

The Manohar Lal Khattar Government had handed over the case of “illegal” re-allotment of a plot to AJL to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The decision to hand over the probe to the CBI into the AJL case was taken after receiving the report of Haryana  Vigilance Bureau (SVB) which had in May 2016 registered a case of cheating and corruption against former Chief Minister and then HUDA chairman, Hooda.

Giving details, senior Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Thursday said that the CBI would soon file charge sheet in the court against former Chief Minister in National Herald case.

For this, Haryana Governor had given approval to CBI, he said.

Vij said that after completing the investigations on this matter, the CBI had asked for approval from the Governor for prosecuting Hooda.

However, the two-time former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday reiterated that he was a victim of “political vendetta” and has done no wrong in the case involving allotment of a plot of land to AJL.

“I have been maintaining that I am a victim of political vendetta,” Hooda said while talking to the mediapersons on the sidelines of a Congress workers' meeting.

He said, “I have been saying this earlier too that political vendetta was being unleashed against me. This case was part of that vendetta and witch-hunt. Nothing wrong has been done during my tenure (as CM) and in this case too, the rules were followed.”

Reacting to Hooda’s statement, Haryana Minister Anil Vij said that the former CM had allotted land to Congress on throw away prices in National Herald case which caused a huge financial loss to the state.

It has been alleged that Hooda-led Congress regime had bend rules to give 3,360 square metres land in Panchkula’s Sector 6. The resumed plot was allegedly re-alloted to AJL at a price lower than the prevailing market rate, allegedly in contravention of rules.

Vij said that central agencies are investigating this matter so there should not be any political resentment.

The AJL is linked to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and President Rahul Gandhi as The National Herald newspaper is the legacy of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Notably, the case of cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy, registered by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau against Hooda and AJL for alleged irregularities in allotment of a plot of land in Panchkula to the firm had been taken over by the CBI last year.

Registered against former CM Hooda in his ex-officio capacity as Haryana Urban Development Authority chairman, the FIR also named HUDA’s former chief administrator amongst others.

The CBI FIR, quoting the Haryana Government’s complaint, said the AJL filed an appeal against the HUDA’s decision before HUDA administrator, who dismissed the appeal on July 26, 1995.

AJL subsequently challenged the HUDA administrator's decision before the Haryana's Town and Country Planning Commissioner who too set aside the appeal, the CBI FIR said.

The FIR further alleged that abusing his official position as HUDA chairman and contravening HUDA’s policies, the then Chief Minister Hooda went against the advise rendered to him by the officials and ordered re-allotment of the plot to AJL at original rates plus interest on August 28, 2005.

The investigation carried out by the Haryana police after the BJP government came to power concluded that allotment was made in an "arbitrary manner" and in complete violation of the HUDA Act.