Anti-Corruption Bureau sends questionnaire to P K Dhumal in Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association case

SHIMLA: The state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today sent a questionnaire to former Chief Minister PK Dhumal asking about the decisions taken by his government with regard to granting of various approvals to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA).

The ACB has asked him to file his reply within a week and also sent the photocopies of the file notings pertaining to the issues on which queries are based, official sources said.

It has also sought to know from Dhumal why he did not recluse himself from chairing the cabinet meetings in which decisions for giving various approvals to HPCA were taken, when he was the chief patron of the HPCA with voting right while his son Anurag Thakur was managing the affairs of the HPCA. It also asked Dhumal that why did he concealed the vital fact from the Cabinet that land, which was leased to HPCA, belonged to Revenue department which was later given to Education department which further transferred it to department of Youth Services and Sports (YSS), the ACB sources said.

The ACB also said that further, the finance department had objected to grant of lease on concessional rates and said that it should be granted on "usual terms" but why the government gave the land on lease for Re one per month.

Some queries pertaining to use of Club House in HPCA stadium at Dharmasala as a commercial venture in alleged violation of terms of lease, demolition of residences of lecturers without following the due process for demolition of government buildings have also been asked by the ACB which has completed the legal process by sending the questionnaire and sought Dhumal's comments, they said.