Activists write to BJP, Congress to deny tickets to change of land use scam accused

A decade old case of Change of Land Use scam involving six former MLAs who were allegedly exposed while demanding bribe in a sting operation have returned to haunt both the BJP and the Congress after the former fields Vinod Bhayana from Hansi assembly constituency.

A group of farmers and activists led by Dharmender Kuhar, who carried out the sting operation, had written letters to the national presidents of both the parties urging them not to give tickets to the leaders in the assembly elections.

Among those who faced charges include Ram Niwas Ghorela from Barwala segment, Naresh Selwal from Uklana (reserved), Jarnail Singh from Ratia (reserved), Ram Kishan Fauji from Bawani Khera (reserved) and Rao Narender, then health minister and MLA from Narnaul in 2014 during the Congress government. The proceedings in the corruption case against them are at present stayed by the High Court.

Sixth of these MLAs Vinod Bhayana who switched over to the BJP and got a clean chit in the case has been fielded by the party from Hansi assembly segment in Hisar district. However, his exoneration has been challenged in the court under Section 319 of the CrPC requesting the court to summon him in the case.

Ghorela, Selwal, Singh and Fauji are aspirants for the Congress.

Kuhar and other activists Naveen Sharma, Jasbir Chahal, Naveen Punia, Praveen Nambardar said that they had written letters to BJP chief JP Nadda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to field clean faces in the assembly polls.

“These leaders were exposed on video. Later, the Lokayukta formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that found them guilty of the charges. Subsequently, they were booked in the corruption case in the State Vigilance Bureau,” Kuhar said.

Singh, Narender, Selwal besides Bhayana are accused in a case of demanding bribes for change of land use and to get the land of the Waqf board released. However, Barwala MLA Ghorela had allegedly demanded bribes from an NGO in lieu of getting a contract for teaching the children of poor workers at the brick kilns under the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan.

On the basis of the sting operations conducted at separate times, the then opposition party INLD filed a complaint with the Haryana Lokayukta in 2014. Lokayukata constituted SIT to investigate the corruption charges against the MLAs. The SIT, headed by then ADGP V Kamaraja, found them prima facie guilty in the probe and recommended for filing of an FIR under Prevention of Corruption Act.