Gurgaon: Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has ordered an inquiry into an auction of two residential corner plots. The probe into the auction as well as the delay in issuing a letter of intent (LOI) was ordered after the two plots ended up fetching substantially less than three general-category plots of the same size auctioned days earlier.The authority had put five residential plots in sectors 23 and 23A up for auction. Three general-category plots were auctioned on Jan 29, followed by the two corner plots on Feb 4. The two 286-sq-metre corner plots — which should ordinarily command a premium over regular plots — fetched Rs 5.5 crore and Rs 5.3 crore, respectively, in the e-auction on Feb 4. In comparison, three 286sqm general-category plots in the same sector auctioned on Jan 29 fetched Rs 7 crore, Rs 6.6 crore and Rs 6.6 crore. Thus, while the three regular plots together fetched Rs 20.2 crore, the two corner plots fetched Rs 10.8 crore.The authority, however, has not concluded that the e-auction portal was hacked or suffered a technical failure. An HSVP official told TOI, “Since corner plots are priced about 10% higher than plots in the general category, the two could have fetched around Rs 15 crore, based on the prices at which three similarly sized general-category plots in the same sector were auctioned earlier.”On a plot-by-plot comparison, each corner plot fetched about Rs 1.1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore less than the general-category plots sold just days earlier. The wide variation in bids prompted the estate officer’s office to flag the matter with HSVP headquarters. The officer also raised the possibility of a technical problem with the e-auction portal or even a compromise of the portal, following which the authority ordered a probe.The matter has since widened beyond the auction itself to the delay in issuing the LOI for one of the plots and the possible financial implication for HSVP. For the plot that fetched around Rs 5.5 crore, HSVP headquarters directed the LOI to be issued on Feb 27, and it was issued on March 2. The second corner plot, which fetched around Rs 5.3 crore, became the subject of further scrutiny. Although headquarters directed issuance of its LOI on March 13, the process did not move ahead after the estate officer highlighted the significant difference between the prices fetched by the two categories of plots.Under the auction terms, the successful bidder initially deposits 10% of the bid amount, with the balance payable subsequently. “The official inquiry is examining whether the delay in issuing the LOI resulted in HSVP losing interest income on the amount that could otherwise have been deposited,” said the official. The headquarters has handed the matter to its chief vigilance officer, who has sought a response from the estate officer. HSVP has also ordered recovery of any loss caused by negligence from the official or employee found responsible.“The inquiry is examining the circumstances of the auction, the wide difference in bids and the subsequent delay in processing the LOI,” said the officer. The estate officer, while informing headquarters about the sequence of events, has maintained that there was no fault on the part of any officer or employee.
