CLU scam comes under HC lens

Ludhiana: The change of land use (CLU) scam involving a housing project on Gill Road has come under the scanner of the Punjab and Haryana high court.
The court on Monday issued a notice of motion on a petition filed by Ludhiana RTI activist Kuldeep Singh Khaira, who has sought a CBI probe into the scam.
In June 2018, local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had marked an inquiry into the case to municipal corporation DSP Balwinder Singh Sekhon, who has already submitted his report to the department. The petitioner — who has impleaded Punjab chief secretary, Punjab DGP, chief vigilance officer of department of local bodies and food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, besides others, as party in the case — alleged that cabinet minister Ashu had also threatened inquiry officer Sekhon.
Khaira said he moved the high court as no action was taken against those involved even after submission of the inquiry report to the local bodies department. The petitioner has also sought registration of an FIR against Ashu, the project developer, and the MC officials involved in forging documents, land records and sale deeds.
“The HC has accepted the case and notice of motion has been issued for August 23. I am hopeful of getting justice. Even as Sekhon had submitted the inquiry report to the local bodies department, no action was taken. When the scam came to the fore, the opposition parties also raised voice, but it soon died down,” the petitioner added.
Demanding that the investigation should be transferred to the CBI to bust the racket, he said, “I have sought police protection as I am being pressurized not to pursue the case. But I will fight till the end.”
Refuting the allegations, Ashu said, “The CM has already marked an inquiry, which will make everything clear. I have nothing to do with this project.”
The matter came to light after Khaira lodged a complaint with the local bodies department on January 16, 2018. Months later, local bodies minister Navjot Sidhu had marked the probe to MC DSP BS Sekhon, whose report allegedly indicted three IAS officers and Ashu for giving patronage to illegal developers. However, the report is still under covers.
The case had rocked the Assembly in February when Aam Aadmi Party leaders alleged that Ashu was also involved in the scam and sought his resignation. The CM had then ordered an inquiry. The MC, in March, had sealed the project premises to stop the ongoing construction work.
THE CASE SO FAR
January 16, 2018: RTI activist Kuldeep Khaira files a complaint with local bodies minister Navjot Sidhu and MC against illegal construction of flats on Gill Road
January 19, 2018: Khaira approaches the chief vigilance officer; then zonal commissioner Anita Darshi stops construction work; zone C assistant town planner concerned recommends FIR against three developers for ignoring building bylaws
January 22, 2018: Khaira attacked
July 9, 2018: Khaira again lodges complaint with Sidhu, who marks an inquiry to MC DSP
February 17, 2019: Inauguration of the project in the presence of Congress MP Ravneet Bittu and Congress leader Kamaljit Singh Karwal again highlights the issue
February 23, 2019: AAP leaders rake up the “scam” in Assembly, seek resignation of Ashu