Dharamsala News/First arrest in connection with HPCA irregularities

Dharamsala, November 19, 2013: M.C.Katoch, a former sub-divisional officer (SDO) with the public works department (PWD), was arrested from Palampur town (near Dharamsala) by State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday in connection with HPCA irregularities.  An investigating officer informed that the arrested official is accused of conniving with the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA). He is accused of declaring a government college building comprising employee quarters located near the main gate of the HPCA’s Cricket stadium in Dharamsala unsafe. The building was demolished in 2008  and  HPCA encroached the land there after.
This has been the first arrest of a government functionary since a case of cheating and misappropriation was filed against the BJP MP Anurag Thakur-led state cricket body Aug 1.
 “Katoch took the decision to declare the building unsafe without getting its technical survey report. In fact, at the time of demolition it was repaired just a year back (2007),” said an official, who did not wish to be identified.
“A fresh land demarcation was carried out three days back by the revenue officials and found that the HPCA has encroached on 3,000 sq m government land. Earlier, it was estimated that the encroachment was on 720 sq m land,” said the official.
The HPCA has been facing two cases: First, a case of cheating and misappropriation over alleged wrong-doing in allotment of land, which according to revenue records was common village land, to the sports association for constructing a residential complex for the players near its stadium in Dharamsala.
Second, it has been accused of encroaching on 3,000 sq m government land. The encroached portion is located near the main gate of the Dharamsala stadium.