The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a provisional attachment order under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, attaching part of the assets to the extent of Rs 16.38 crore of a nine-storey building with 2 basements in Mumbai of Associated Journals Limited.

According to an official release, the attachment order was issued against the Associated Journals Limited & Moti Lal Vora, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Associated Journals Limited.

The ED started investigation under provisions of PMLA on registration of FIR by state police & CBI which said that "Plot No. C-17 Sector 6, Panchkula" was allotted to AJL in 1982.

The release said that the plot was resumed back by the Estate Officer, HUDA vide order dated Oct 30, 1992, as the AJL didn't comply with the conditions of allotment letter & the resumption order attained finality after the dismissal of the revision plea in 1996.

It said the then CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda "blatantly by misusing his official position dishonestly allotted the said plot afresh in the guise of re-allotment to the AJL at original rates plus interest in violation of necessary conditions/ policy of HUDA" vide order dated Aug 28, 2005.

It further noted that Bhupinder Singh Hooda also didn't adhere with the "legal opinion of LR, Haryana & recommendations of HUDA officers and FCTCP."

The release stated that "Thus, there was a wrongful loss to HUDA & wrongful gain to AJL. Bhupinder Singh Hooda further favoured the AJL by granting them three undue extensions for construction of plot from 01.05.2008 to 10.05.2012 until the AJL completed the construction in the year 2014".

It said investigation under PMLA revealed that Moti Lal Vora & Hooda were involved in the process of illegal possession of "crime proceeds".

The property was provisionally attached & adjudicating authority under PMLA has confirmed this attachment.

"It has been further revealed that, the accused used this "proceeds of crime i.e. Plot No. C-17, Sector-6, Panchkula" for availing loans from Syndicate Bank, IP Estate Branch, Bahadursha Zafar Marg, New Delhi by way of pledging it for approval of construction of building at "Plot No. 02, Survey No. 341, Near Kala Nagar, EPF Office, Bandra (E), Mumbai" held in the name of Associated Journals Limited valuing at Rs 120 crore.

Further investigation is going on.

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