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Chandigarh: In a major setback to the Congress high command, the newly-appointed Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Rao Narender Singh has been charge-sheeted in a corruption case by the Haryana Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The charge sheet was filed before a local court in Narnaul on Thursday, marking a serious embarrassment for the party’s state unit soon after his elevation.
According to officials, the case pertains to allegations that Rao Narender Singh, during his tenure as a minister in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government, had sought bribes in exchange for facilitating Change of Land Use (CLU) permissions and project clearances.
The ACB investigation stems from an FIR registered on January 29, 2016, following the directions of the Lokayukta, Haryana. The FIR was based on a sting operation in which Singh and four others were allegedly seen negotiating monetary consideration for CLU approvals.
The controversy first surfaced on November 9, 2013, when the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) released a video CD in Chandigarh, claiming it showed then-Health Minister and Narnaul MLA Rao Narender Singh discussing payment details for obtaining CLU permission for a land parcel in Palwal district.
The release of the charge sheet has reignited political tensions in the state, with opposition parties questioning the Congress leadership’s decision to appoint Singh despite the pending vigilance case. Party insiders said the development comes at a politically sensitive time, as the Congress leadership is seeking to rebuild its state unit ahead of the 2029 Assembly elections.
