INDIA
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Monday said former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his son were involved in corruption in the name of promoting cricket.
"The previous BJP government went out of the way to give precious government land worth Rs.250 crore in various places to the HPCA at an annual lease of Re.1. We are inquiring into it," Virbhadra Singh said at an election rally in Sarkhaghat in Mandi district.
He said the state government is not against promoting cricket or any other game but associating a special class of people with it (cricket) is wrong.
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), headed by BJP MP and Dhumal's son Anurag Thakur, also a joint secretary in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is under investigation for wrongfully converting a registered society into a company.
The vigilance bureau filed a cheating and misappropriation case against the HPCA in August 2013 over alleged wrongdoings in land allotment and for constructing a residential complex for players near its stadium in Dharamsala, 250 km from the state capital Shimla.
The chief minister blamed Dhumal and his family for the malicious propaganda and personal attacks involving his family members.
Virbhadra Singh said he had to face trials in court when Dhumal was the chief minister. "Since I had not done anything wrong, I came out clean in every case," he added.
The CPI-M sought the Supreme Court's intervention March 28 to review the constitution of all cricket bodies in India, including the HPCA, to ensure transparency and accountability in their functioning.
In a communication to the Supreme Court chief justice, CPI-M leader Tikender Panwar said the state associations of the BCCI must be put under legal scrutiny and monitored by the apex court.
"Cricket has become a platform for land sharks and such people, especially in states like Himachal Pradesh where cricket is synonymous with land mafia," Panwar said.
Balloting for the four Lok Sabha seats in the hill state will be held May 7.
Alia Bhatt says she reads these books to Raha, reveals 'I go for therapy...'
Is Elon Musk's Starlink a game-changer for India?
Musician AR Rahman admitted to Apollo hospital in Chennai after complaining of chest pain
Meet Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion who made his Ferrari debut in Australian GP
Meet man, founder of Rs 1.5 lakh crore company, has no phone, drives Rs 6 lakh car, his business is…
US President Donald Trump mulls travel ban on over 40 countries; What does it mean for Indians?
Sunita Williams’ Return to Earth: Crew transition and journey back from ISS
Awaiting the Pull of Gravity: Sunita Williams' health in microgravity and coming readjustment
When Sobhita Dhulipala was replaced with a dog in a brand shoot in Goa
Maharashtra: Man suffers heart attack while driving car, rams into multiple vehicles in Kolhapur
Harmanpreet Kaur hugs Nita Ambani as MI lifts WPL trophy, viral moment steals the show
Gold smuggling case: BIG action against Ranya Rao's stepfather, DGP K Ramachandra Rao; sent on...
Who is Lex Fridman? Meet American podcaster set to release 'epic' 3-hour podcast with PM Modi
'Love for Bharat unites us all': Amit Shah gifts guitar to Mizoram's 7-year-old singing prodigy
Canada's BIG move: PM Mark Carney reviews purchase of American F-35 jets amid tensions with Trump
'Fascinating conversation': PM Modi's ‘epic' 3-hour podcast with Lex Fridman drops on Sunday
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan did no makeup in THIS 26-year-old superhit film; can you guess movie name?
Why Donald Trump ordered military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen? Here's what we know so far
Ex-IPL star emulates Yuvraj Singh's feat, smashes six sixes in an over in Asian Legends League 2025
Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee to decide Rohit Sharma's Test captaincy amidst IPL uncertainty
Ram Charan’s 18-carat gold Rolex puzzle dial watch comes with a jaw-dropping price
Are nuts and seeds good for weight loss? Nutritionist explains
Salaar re-release: Prabhas-starrer eyes to surpass initial response, already sold...tickets in a day
'As of now...': Virat Kohli finally breaks silence on retirement talks after Champions Trophy win
MI vs DC: Nat Sciver-Brunt creates history in WPL 2025 final, becomes first batter to score....
Delhi's AQI in 'moderate' category for Jan-March period in three years, drops to...
Elon Musk’s son X steals spotlight walking hand-in-hand with Donald Trump on White House Lawn
Test farewell on the cards? Virat Kohli drops huge hint about his retirement plans
Caught on camera: Karnataka BJP leader, cop engage in power slap contest, here's what happened next
Inside Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan's 7,000 square feet colonial-style studio in Chennai
14 youths arrested for causing havoc on Holika Dahan night in Ahmedabad
Man arrested for brutally killing a puppy after his video goes viral, citizens demand justice
What is floodlighting, Gen Z’s latest dating trend turning first dates into therapy sessions?
Viral video: Elephant mourns her lost friend, refuses to leave; internet breaks down in tears
Not Ratan Tata, Jimmy Tata or Noel Tata, majority of ownership in Tata Group is held by...
Meet Yasmeen Premji and Rishad Premji, wife and son of Azim Premji, and the backbones of Wipro
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Update: Surat-Maharashtra stretch delayed, completion pushed to...
What is Ketamine? The 'doctor prescribed' drug linked to Elon Musk’s mental health treatment
Vadodara police chief issues statement on deadly car accident: 'Multiple investigative teams are...'
Meet world's five richest women: From L'Oréal to Amazon, which companies are they associated with?
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif gives PKR 2.5 mn to viral footballer-turned-jalebi seller Muhammad Riaz
Meet Grecia Munoz, second wife of Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, she is also known as...
4 assailants, 7 bullets: How a man waiting to have 'sehri' in UP's Aligarh was shot dead
Amritsar: 5 injured after man attacks pilgrims with iron pipes inside Golden Temple
SpaceX, NASA launch mission to bring back astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore from ISS