Hoshiarpur land scam: BJP leader’s son, his business partner to be quizzed
In the scam, reported by HT in June last year, land sharks bought chunks already notified for a road four-laning project by spreading rumours that the government was going to pay owners low compensation. To jack up rates later, the new owners with the alleged help of government officials got status of the land changed from agricultural to residential or commercial.
Jived Sood, son of senior BJP leader and former minister Tikshan Sud, and his business associate Akhil Sood have been summoned by the state vigilance bureau for questioning over the Hoshiarpur land scam.
In the scam, reported by HT in June last year, land sharks bought chunks already notified for a road four-laning project by spreading rumours that the government was going to pay owners low compensation. To jack up rates later, the new owners with the alleged help of government officials got status of the land changed from agricultural to residential or commercial. This way, land bought at a rate of as low as Rs 50,000 a marla was acquired by the government for as high a rate as Rs 6 lakh a marla. The scam is estimated to be for more than Rs 100 crore.
Jived and Akhil have been summoned as one of the arrested accused, Pratik Gupta, said during interrogation that he had given Rs 2.5 crore to them and purchased their firm SS Engineering. “Both need to be quizzed about the money received from Gupta. They have been summoned for Monday as witnesses” said superintendent of police (SP), economic offences wing (EOW), Sareen Kumar.
When contacted, Jived said, “My partner Akhil Sood has received the summons but I am yet to get any. If I am called, I will submit all things required by the vigilance bureau.”
Pratik Gupta, currently in the Ludhiana jail, was arrested on July 3 from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi. He had been absconding since the first information report (FIR) was registered against him along with 12 others in the case in February this year.