Anushka Mansharamani
The Punjab and Haryana High Court put a stay on the proceedings in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court relating to the theme- cumamusement park project.
This petition was filed by the former UT adviser, Lalit Sharma, former home secretary Krishan Mohan and former tourism secretary, Vivek Atray.
The petition sought direction for quashing the 2010 FIR filed against them and to stay the order and further proceedings.
CBI submitted a response before the High Court on the same.
On 6th January 2020, the CBI court issued new summons to Lalit Sharma, Krishan Mohan, Vivek Atray, and Ajay Chandra, Unitech Limited directed.
They were charged for corruption, abuse of power, planning a criminal conspiracy and for their involvement in the multi-crore cumamusement-theme park scam.
A closure report was submitted earlier in 2018 which stated that there was a lack of evidence against the accused in the case, however, the CBI rejected the report observing irregularities and illegalities.
There were two closure reports submitted by the CBI in the same case and those were rejected as the court directed them to continue the investigation in the matter.
The third report was rejected however the court had summoned the accused for trial after the third report.
RTI activist, Vivek Aditya in 2009 had filed a complaint to the Central Vigilance Commission alleging financial irregularities and illegalities in the project.
The case was then transferred to the CBI and on 4th October 2010, and the CBI lodged an FIR against the 3 IAS officers and Ajay Chandra for corruption, abuse of power, and criminal conspiracy.
It was alleged that 73.65 acres of land in Sarangpur Village was given to the firm at just Rs. 5.5 crore and that the administration had ignored the financial rules while inviting tenders and shortlisting companies.
