Heady games land Karnataka hockey association in trouble

The Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA), which has produced national players, is in trouble. The excise department has issued it a notice for running a club house inside its premises in Akkithimmanahalli.

While the petition commission headed by Vimala Gowda is hearing the case, association members wonder why their club house alone is targeted. Many other sports and residential associations on lease are running such club houses without any problem.

Sources said a notice was issued to the KSHA by the excise department after one of the association members, M Krishna, sent a complaint to the petition commission headed by Gowda.

“The member, in his petition, said the association is running a club house even though there is a sports hostel and a temple near the hockey stadium. The residents complained against the running of the club house where liquor is supplied to members in violation of the lease agreement,” they said.

Based on the petition, Gowda along with excise department and the BBMP cancelled bar licence to the club house.

“Gowda, along with officers of the excise department and BBMP estate officers, inspected the club house and cancelled the bar licence to the club house,” sources said.

The association has requested the excise department and the petition commission to reject the petition as they had not violated any rules. Its members said that the sports hostel was far from the club house and there was a separate entrance to the sports hostel. The temple too was far from the club and there was no single complaint from the residents against the club house which was set up 16 years ago.

“Due to political motives, an association member has filed the petition,” sources said.

According to an association member, the club house is paying Rs5 lakh as excise tax for running the club house. The money generated from the club house is being utilised for the development of sports.

“There are 2,500 members in the association. Over 50 staffers working in the club house are now jobless. Also the number of members coming to the club house for recreation has gone down”, an association member said.

When DNA contacted KSHA secretary K Krishnamurthy, he refused to comment as the case was in the petition commission.
Meanwhile, the association is approaching the excise minister MP Renukacharya to intervene and provide licence for running the bar in the club house.

BBMP engineer-in-chief BT Ramesh said action would be taken against all club houses running bars and violating the rules.