ED attaches 9 storey building worth 16.38 Cr owned by Top Congressman Motilal Vohra

New Delhi:Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday said it has issued a provisional attachment order under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for an attachment of part of property of Congress backed Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and its Chairman-cum-Managing Director and Congress leader Moti Lal Vora.

According to the order,  that attached property is a nine-storey building having two basements and total built up area of 15000 Sq mtrs. 

The federal financial probe agency initiated investigation after the  registration of FIR by Haryana Police and CBI which revealed that a plot number  C-17  in Sector six in  Panchkula was allotted to AJL in the year 1982. 

However, the same was resumed back by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) Estate Officer on October 31, 1992 as the AJL did not comply with the conditions of allotment letter. 

The Resumption Order attained finality after dismissal of the Revision Petition in 1996. However,  the  then  Chief Minister of the state and HUDA Chairman Bhupendra Singh Hooda  had blatantly by misusing his official position and dishonestly allotted the said plot afresh in the guise of re-allotment to the AJL at original rates plus interest in violation of necessary conditions, on August 28 in 2005.

"He also did not adhere with the legal opinion of 'Legal and Revenue department of Haryana and recommendations of HUDA Officers. Thus, there was a wrongful loss to HUDA and wrongful gain to AJL. 

ED also revealed that Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda further favoured the AJL by granting them three undue extensions for construction of plot from  May 1,2008 to May10,2012 until the AJL completed the construction in the year 2014.  

Earlier, investigation under PMLA revealed that both Mr Vora and Mr Hooda were involved in the process of illegal possession of 'Crime Proceeds' that was plot number C17.

The probe agency also revealed that the accused used this 'Proceeds of Crime'  for availing loans from Syndicate Bank at  Bahadursha Zafar Marg in Delhi by  pledging it for approval of construction of building at Plot No. 02, Survey No. 341, Near Kala Nagar, EPF Office, Bandra (E), Mumbai held in the name of Associated Journals Limited valuing at Rs  120 crore. (UNI)