Government closes inquiry into land lease allotment to HPCA

SHIMLA : Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur-headed government has given nod to state anti-corruption and vigilance bureau’s recommendation to close probe into land allotted to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for running a cricket academy in Shimla and land allotted for cricket stadium in Amtar in Hamirpur district .

Government decision to close inquiry comes week after the Supreme Court quashed the FIR against former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his son Anurag Thakur in a case related to irregularities in allotment of land for cricket stadium in Dharamshala.

Congress, after taking over reigns in 2012, had initiated strings of inquiries against HPCA including the land allotted to HPCA for cricket academy and stadium in Amtar. “Government has given its approval to close the inquiry against HPCA,” the senior government functionary said requesting anonymity.

Virbhadra Singh-headed cabinet on October 27 gave its consent to cancel all land leased to Hamirpur Lok Sabha member Anurag Thakur headed HPCA. Cabinet maintained that HPCA had violated the lease clauses, consequently it gave its approval to cancel land lease for cricket ground in Dharamsala, the land for cricket stadium in Amtar, ground taken over by the HPCA for cricket academy in Shimla and ground in Gumma in Kothkhai.

During the inquiry the vigilance sleuths detected that the portion of land was in possession with HPCA and portion of cricket stadium was in ownership of Himachal home guards. Government had further directed the revenue department to resolve the issue related to ownership of the stadium. The Congress government had handed over the probe to vigilance bureau that investigated for over four years.