Shimla, April 18 -- Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI M) on Friday demanded judicial probe into the Chester Hill case even as Himachal Pradesh revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi said a departmental probe was underway.

"The matter is serious and is being investigated at the departmental level. Whoever is found guilty will be punished," said Negi.

The Chester Hills project in Solan is currently embroiled in a high-profile controversy had led to a bureaucratic tussle with allegations of a multi-crore "land scam" involving 275 bighas of land and accusations of "benami" dealings and violations of Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act. A fresh probe into the matter was ordered by the Himachal government earlier this month. ...