State anti-corruption bureau grills HPCA chief Thakur

Dharamsala, Nov 11 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) president Anurag Thakur was grilled for over two hours Monday by the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau over affairs of the sports association, an investigating official said here.

Thakur, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Hamirpur, has appeared before the investigastors for the first time since the registration of cases against the HPCA.

"Questions relating to conversion of the HPCA, which was initially registered under the societies act, into a company and land encroachment upon by it near the (Dharamsala) stadium were asked," Additional Superintendent of Police Jograj Jaryal said.

Official sources said the manner in which the HPCA, initially registered as an association under the Societies Act, got itself converted into a company without the government approval raised doubts about its functioning. "A set of 50 questions was asked to Thakur," said another official.

Besides Thakur, HPCA officials Vishal Marwah (secretary) and A.S. Negi (treasurer) were also questioned by the Vigilance Bureau separately.

"If needed, he (Thakur) will be summoned again," Jaryal added.

Soon after questioning, Thakur told reporters that he provided all the information sought by the Vigilance Bureau.

"We would continue to cooperate with the investigating agency, provided it's working in a fair manner," he added.

Earlier, Thakur, also joint secretary in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was told to appear in the Vigilance Bureau office here Oct 31 but he failed to turn up.

The Vigilance Bureau Aug 1 filed a cheating and misappropriation case against the HPCA over alleged wrong-doings in allotment of land, which according to revenue records was the common village land, to the sports association for constructing a residential complex for the players near its international stadium in Dharamsala.

The disputed land, three km from the picturesque stadium, has been used by the HPCA to build a five-star residential complex called The Pavilion, which has 38 rooms, 32 huts and a high-tech gym. The HPCA website calls it the "exotic residential resort".

The land was allotted when the BJP government, headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal, was in power in the state. Dhumal is Thakur's father.

The HPCA has been accused of encroaching upon a 720 sq m land of the state sports and youth services department. The encroached portion is located near the main gate of the HPCA stadium here. A case in this regard was registered Oct 3.

Two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers — Deepak Sanan and R.S. Gupta — were charge sheeted by the state government July 26 for allegedly allowing the change in the land-use for building the HPCA residential complex.