Illegal acquisition of nearly 912 acres by private builders in Haryana under a land acquisition process initiated by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government was set aside by the Supreme Court on Monday. The court slammed the Hooda government, saying such decisions were nothing but "fraud" on power. Ordering an inquiry by the Central Bureau of investigation, the court directed the state and the Central governments to "recover every single pie" and turn it over to the state government. The 912 acres of land was acquired between 2004 and 2007 from three villages -- Manesar, Lakhnoula and Naurangpur - to set up an industrial township. After the acquisition was notified, many farmers had sold land at throwaway prices to private builders. The land, the court said, was initially purchased for around Rs. 25 lakh per acre. But as the acquisition process progressed, prices rose to Rs. 80 lakh per acre. The land was finally purchased by DLF Home Developers Ltd. at the rate of Rs.4.5 crore per acre.

Illegal acquisition of nearly 912 acres by private builders in Haryana under a land acquisition process initiated by the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government was set aside by the Supreme Court on Monday. The court slammed the Hooda government, saying such decisions were nothing but "fraud" on power. Ordering an inquiry by the Central Bureau of investigation, the court directed the state and the Central governments to "recover every single pie" and turn it over to the state government. The 912 acres of land was acquired between 2004 and 2007 from three villages -- Manesar, Lakhnoula and Naurangpur - to set up an industrial township. After the acquisition was notified, many farmers had sold land at throwaway prices to private builders. The land, the court said, was initially purchased for around Rs. 25 lakh per acre. But as the acquisition process progressed, prices rose to Rs. 80 lakh per acre. The land was finally purchased by DLF Home Developers Ltd. at the rate of Rs.4.5 crore per acre.