The helicopter of a private company 'Sammsann Airways' has been hired by the HP government on contract basis for the official use.
Himachal Pradesh government today refuted allegations that its helicopter was lent free-of-cost to ferry IPL commissioner Lalit Modi's family to Chandigarh after a match in Dharamsala recently, and said the chopper was actually hired at commercial rate.
"It is wrong. The helicopter was provided on the request of IPL to ferry six persons from Dharamsala to Chandigarh on April 19 on rent basis," Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Ajay Bhandari said.
Bhandari, however, said he did not know who travelled in the chopper. "IPL had hired the helicopter for six persons and we do not know who travelled in that."
He said IPL would be charged commercial rate for use of the helicopter which will be about 35 per cent more than the official rate.
The helicopter of a private company 'Sammsann Airways' has been hired by the HP government on contract basis for the official use.
Sources in Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), the host of two IPL matches, said Modi had returned from Dharamsala a day before and his relatives used the chopper on April 19 to go to Chandigarh to take a connecting flight for Delhi as regular flight from Gaggal airport in Kangra district was not available due to bad weather.
Accusing the state government of splurging public money to organise IPL matches hosted by HPCA which is headed by Anurag Thakur, MP and son of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, opposition Congress among others had yesterday raised question about "misuse" of government helicopter by IPL.
The GAD secretary said after collecting flying details from the helicopter company, the state government would forward the bill for payment to the IPL.
The bill will be sent at the rate of Rs 1,58,556 per flying hours in addition to Rs 79,000 per hour retention charges plus taxes which is 10.3 per cent, he added.
State Congress president Kaul Singh Thakur had also sought details of Rs three crore released by the government "in the name of giving a facelift" to Dharamsala two weeks ahead of the IPL matches there.
Two IPL matches were held at HPCA stadium Dharamsala on April 16 and April 18, between Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings respectively.
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