Former Himachal CM, MP son summoned in cricket body row

Shimla/Dharamsala, Sep 6 (IANS) Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his two sons, including Lok Sabha member Anurag Thakur, were Saturday summoned by a trial court in Dharamsala for alleged wrongdoing in allotment of land to the state's cricket association.

Special Judge (Vigilance) K.K. Sharma issued summons to 16 accused, including the Dhumals, to appear in person at the next date of hearing Oct 27. However, two other accused -- IAS officers Deepak Sanan and Ajay Sharma -- were not summoned as the prosecution agency is yet to get sanction to proceed against them.

Eighteen people were formally charged April 25 with alleged wrongdoing in allotment of land to Anurag Thakur-administered Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) for constructing a plush residential complex for players near its stadium in Dharamsala.

Official sources said Sanan and Sharma were posted in the revenue department and youth services and sports department, respectively, when the land was allotted to HPCA.

The state government April 2 got sanction to initiate proceedings against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dhumal for allotment of land to HPCA led by his son, who is also the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) joint secretary, during his regime as chief minister (2008-12).

The state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had filed a case in August 2013 against the HPCA functionaries under sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988.

In another development relating to the HPCA academy in Shimla, the state high court Saturday directed the local municipal corporation to maintain status quo and to file reply before Sep 16, the next date of hearing.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a petition filed by HPCA vice-president Surinder Singh Thakur.

He has moved the high court against the notice dated Sep 1 of the corporation to demolish the temporary structure of the academy at Lalpani on grounds that the area falls under the green belt.

The corporation issued a show-cause notice to HPCA Oct 8 last year as to why the temporary structure be not demolished. The municipal commissioner had passed orders to demolish the structure Jan 8, 2014.

The appeal of the HPCA against the order was dismissed Aug 1 by a trial court in Shimla.

The HPCA has stated that the temporary structure was built after obtaining necessary sanction and permission from the state and central governments.