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Chandigarh: In a significant relief to former Haryana Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday discharged him and Associated Journals Limited (AJL) in the much-debated Panchkula institutional plot allotment case, holding that the material on record did not even prima facie establish the essential ingredients of the alleged offences.
Pronouncing the judgment, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya allowed two revision petitions—filed by AJL and Hooda—challenging the April 16, 2021, order of the Special CBI Court, Panchkula, which had framed charges against them and dismissed Hooda’s discharge plea.
The High Court ruled that continuation of the prosecution would amount to “an abuse of the process of the Court,” and set aside the impugned orders framing charges as well as all subsequent proceedings arising from them. Consequently, both petitioners stand discharged.
Court finds no prima facie case.
In its detailed order, the High Court observed that the prosecution had failed to produce material that could establish even a prima facie case under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC, as well as under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“In view of the discussion, it is apparent that the material brought on record does not even prima facie disclose the existence of essential ingredients of the alleged offences against the petitioners, and there is no ground to proceed against them,” the Court held.
It further noted that allowing the prosecution to continue in the absence of such foundational evidence would constitute misuse of judicial process.
Background of the case
The case pertains to the allotment of an institutional plot (No. C-17) in Sector 6, Panchkula, by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), now Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), to Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of the National Herald newspaper.
The matter was initially registered as an FIR in May 2016 by the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. Subsequently, the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which registered a fresh FIR on April 5, 2017.
The CBI alleged irregularities in the re-allotment of the plot to AJL during Hooda’s tenure as Chief Minister, claiming that the company received undue benefits.
Based on its investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet, following which the Special CBI Court in Panchkula framed charges against Hooda and others in April 2021. Hooda and AJL then approached the High Court seeking the quashing of the charges and discharge from the case.
High Court sets aside Special Court order.
Allowing the petitions, the High Court not only quashed the order framing charges but also annulled all subsequent proceedings in the case.
Legal experts said the judgment effectively brings an end to the criminal prosecution against Hooda and AJL in this matter unless the CBI chooses to challenge the order before the Supreme Court.
The Court also ordered that pending miscellaneous applications, if any, be disposed of.
Political and legal implications
The ruling carries major legal and political implications, as Hooda—currently Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly—has faced multiple investigations related to land allotments during his tenure from 2005 to 2014.
With the High Court’s categorical finding that the prosecution lacked even prima facie evidence, the judgment is likely to strengthen Hooda’s legal position in related matters and intensify political debate in the state. The judgment was reserved on November 26, 2025, and pronounced on February 25, 2026.
