New Delhi/Chandigarh: The Supreme Court of India has stayed trial proceedings against four former Haryana IAS officers in the controversial Manesar land deal case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case, which also names former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, revolves around alleged criminal conspiracy and corruption in a land acquisition process that resulted in a massive loss to farmers and gain to private developers.
Four Retired Bureaucrats Get Relief from SC
On May 29, a bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai granted interim relief to former IAS officer Rajeev Arora, staying the trial proceedings against him and issuing notices to the respondents.
Subsequently, on July 16 and 29, the apex court extended similar relief to three other retired IAS officers — Sudeep Singh Dhillon, Murari Lal Tayal, and D.R. Dhingra — and former chief town planner Dhare Singh, ordering that trial proceedings against them “shall stand stayed till the next date of hearing.”
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Special CBI Court Takes Note of SC Orders
The special CBI court conducting the trial acknowledged the Supreme Court’s orders in its latest hearing. Judge Rajeev Goyal, in an order dated August 7, noted that arguments on the framing of charges against Dhare Singh and D.R. Dhingra would not proceed due to the SC stay.
Meanwhile, proceedings against other accused named in the CBI chargesheet dated December 1, 2020, except those granted stay, are set to resume on August 22. The court also noted that accused Kulwant Singh Lamba has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) and is likely to be granted similar relief.
Case Background: Alleged Scam in Manesar Land Acquisition
The scam dates back to 2007 when the then Congress-led government in Haryana, under CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, initiated the process to acquire approximately 912 acres of land in Gurgaon district for the Industrial Model Township (IMT), Manesar.
However, as the acquisition process under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 began, panic was allegedly created among landowners. Private real estate developers, in alleged collusion with government officials, pressured farmers to sell their land for as low as ₹20–25 lakh per acre. According to the CBI, this was far below the market value of over ₹4 crore per acre at the time.
Farmers ultimately sold about 400 acres of land for a total of ₹100 crore, while the actual market value was estimated at ₹1,600 crore. The CBI chargesheet accuses multiple former IAS officers and real estate firms of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and causing wrongful loss to farmers.
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Legal Timeline and Current Status
- December 1, 2020: Special CBI court ordered summoning of accused including Rajeev Arora under IPC Section 120-B read with 420.
- December 14, 2020: Punjab & Haryana High Court stayed the order upon Arora’s revision petition.
- May 15, 2024: HC dismissed Arora’s challenge, calling the trial court order valid.
- May 29, 2025: Supreme Court stayed proceedings against Arora.
- July 16 & 29, 2025: SC extended stay to Dhillon, Tayal, Dhingra, and Dhare Singh.
- August 22, 2025: Special CBI court to continue proceedings against remaining accused.
