BJP accused of misleading people on HPCA case

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 24

Deputy chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Planning Board Gangu Ram Musafir and chairman of the 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee Ram Lal Thakur today lashed out at BJP leaders for giving misleading statements with regard to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) case.

The two leaders said the BJP was confusing vigilance cases of serious charges which were still pending in the court of law with the case dismissed by the Supreme Court against the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association.

The Deputy chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Planning Board and chairman of the 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee said a few BJP leaders of the state seemed to be rejoicing on the verdict on the case, but the major case which the Vigilance had filed pertaining to the violation of land laws in purchase of land near Dharamsala was still pending. The leaders were making unnecessary claim of winning a battle, but the war was not yet over, they said.

They said the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association had lost the appeal to quash the vigilance case in the Himachal Pradesh High Court since these cases were based on serious charges, hence the court had turned down the appeal of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association and it had appealed in the Supreme Court which listed the matter for March 29.

They clarified that the vigilance case was still pending in the Supreme Court as the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association’s request to quash the FIR was turned down by the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

Two other vigilance cases were still pending with the High Court, they claimed. The case that has been dismissed by the Supreme Court was investigated by the Kangra district police and pertained to encroachments on government land.