Herald House, BS Hooda, the Gandhis and AJL: Here's all you need to know about the Herald Scam

Significant simultaneous developments took place on Thursday in cases pertaining to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi-owned Associated Journals Limited (AJL), publisher of National Herald newspaper. On one hand, Delhi High Court did not stay eviction order issued by Centre for New Delhi's Herald House, and on or, as per sources, Haryana Governor gave sanction for prosecution of former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. 

HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW:

What is Herald Scam?

Herald Scam is a scam with 2 aspects and one that seems to be unfolding in two locations-- in New Delhi at Herald House and in Panchkula in Haryana. Wher extent of scam will spiral and spre beyond se two locations, only time will tell.

Simply, Herald Scam refers to alleged misuse of Herald House in New Delhi for commercial purposes and alleged dubious allotment of a plot of land in Panchkula, Haryana, to Associated Journals Limited (AJL).

RE | SETBACK FOR GANDHIS: No Stay On AJL's Eviction From Herald House; Sanction To Prosecute Ex-Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda Granted

HERALD HOUSE ANGLE

What’s cloud over Herald House?

Herald House is a property located in plush Bahur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi.

In 1962-63, AJL was allotted land at concessional rates to build up a 5-storey building for purpose of setting up a press along with offices. In 1967, subsequent to a request by AJL, ditional premium at market rate was paid and a perpetual lease was executed so that only basement and first floor of building were to be used for press and offices. As per perpetual lease, remainder of said floors could be let out to “or commercial concerns”. Once again, on 7th January 2013, on request of AJL perpetual lease was modified so that inste of basement and first floor, basement and any one floor of building could be used for press and offices.

RE | National Herald Case: This Is How Gandhis-owned AJL Was Violating Land-use Agreement At Herald House In Delhi

With that context, present allegation in public domain is that Herald House was not used for primary use of “printing press and related purpose”.

In June 2018, a show cause notice was issued to Chairman of AJL stating “if premises is not being used for primary use of printing press and related purpose, renting out of premises itself becomes misuse of allotted land”. It also claimed that “misuses/unauthorised construction done by AJL are in violation” of lease terms.

What’s evidence?

allegation against Herald House stems from fact that a committee was formed on April 9, 2018, comprising of officers from Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs who inspected premises and observed that “no printing press was functioning at any floor of premises and no paper stock was found anywhere”.

What happened in court?

Earlier on Thursday, Land and Development Office personnel reached Herald House to commence eviction proceedings. Almost simultaneously, matter came up in Delhi High Court. While Congress’ Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for AJL, Delhi High Court refused to stay eviction order. Delhi High Court also said that Government will not be able to take physical possession of Herald House while matter is pending in Court.

So question being asked is, was Herald House being used by Congress-linked AJL in name of a press operation to profit on prime property worth crores in national capital?

HOODA-PANCHKULA PLOT ANGLE

As significant, in Herald Scam are allegations against former Haryana Chief Minister BS Hooda who is also a senior Congressmen.

What’s Hooda-Panchkula plot angle about?

allegation is that former Chief Minister of Haryana and Senior Congressmen BS Hooda allegedly ignored rules and misused his official position to re-allot a Panchkula plot of land to AJL in 2005 at rates of land in 1982.

To put this context, AJL got an over 3000 sq meter plot of land in Panchkula, Haryana, from Haryana Government in 1982. reason for concessional land being given to AJL was, again, for purpose of press. Despite a dece elapsing, no construction h begun on said land by AJL and so in 1992 plot was taken back by Haryana Government.

Interestingly, between 1992 and 1996, AJL reportedly me multiple appeals seeking re-allotment of plot of land, only for appeals to be rejected.

However, in 2005, as BS Hooda as Chief Minister of Haryana and as ex-officio Chairman of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) allegedly misused his official position to re-allot plot to AJL and caused "wrongful gain" to it. This n allegedly resulted in a loss to state exchequer.

So question being asked is, was Hooda as Chief Minister of Haryana almost gifting land worth over Rs. 100 crore to Congress-linked AJL at 1982 rates in 2005? And question that arises reof is, was a Congress Chief Minister using his office to wrongly benefit a Congress-linked company of which Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi eventually became directors?

What’s latest on action against Hooda?

On Thursday morning, Republic TV confirmed from top sources that Haryana Governor h given sanction to prosecute BS Hooda in case. This effectively means that probing authorities can now proceed with ir criminal investigation against former Chief Minister.

How does it all link up to National Herald? Is re a Gandhi connection?

AJL was eventually procured by Young Indian Limited-- a company in which Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are Directors.

BIGGER PICTURE

bigger question being asked is wher this model wherein Congress-linked companies were allegedly getting land at concessional rates for sake of running a press but without any operation runs beyond New Delhi and Haryana.

Interestingly, re seems to be a pattern between Herald Scam and alleged wrongful allocation of land to Robert Vra’s firm in Haryana. allegation against Vra’s Skylight Hospitality is that y procured land at throwaway prices while BS Hooda was Chief Minister of Haryana. This land was n allegedly sold to DLF in an allegedly sweeart deal.

RE | National Herald Case: From Sanction To Prosecute Bhupinder Singh Hooda To No Stay On AJL's Eviction, Here Are 10 Developments

NOW WHAT?

While Enforcement Directorate is presently probing Panchkula plot of land which has thrown up BS Hooda’s name and sanction to prosecute former Chief  Minister has been given by Haryana Governor, Herald House matter is ongoing in Delhi High Court.

What's BS Hooda saying?

On Thursday, reacting to allegations against him, BS Hooda said, “This is all political vendetta, this is alrey stated this is not new, this is politically motivated.” “re is nothing wrong in what I did, this is politically motivated. I have full faith in judiciary,” he ded.

WATCH: "Why Would My Troubles Mount?", Says Ex-Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda Amid Sanction For His Prosecution In AJL Case