Amid a high voltage political drama, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) chief Anurag Thakur appeared before State Vigilance Bureau on the day of his birthday on Thursday but the vigilance officials refused to quiz him.
Thakur being garlanded and escorted by huge gathering of supporters reached Vigilance Bureau office on Thursday noon despite the revised date given to him earlier and demanded to be quizzed. Supporters accompanied Thakur and continued to stage protest outside the investigating agency’s office.
Thakur was first sent to the investigating officer’s (IO) chamber where the officer was not present. HPCA chief then met SP (vigilance) Bimal Gupta with a request that he should proceed with the inquiry into the case.
Vigilance SP Bimal Gupta then refused to quiz him saying he is supervising officer and informed him that he was summoned on October 31. Thakur expressed his inability to appear on October 31 due to pre-engagements and Gupta asked him to given in written for further change in the date.
Earlier, in the day Anurag Thakur held a small rally at Dharmashala from where he challenged the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to do whatever he can do to stop HPCA managed International Cricket Stadium from holding cricket matches. Thakur accused Chief Minister for playing vendetta politics. “Current State Government is trying to take over HPCA by hook or crook and it’s my open challenge to the Chief Minister to do whatever he can. We won’t let you to fulfil this dream of yours,” said Thakur.
He alleged that similar efforts were made during previous Congress Government tenure in 2003 but they had failed and same will happen this time. “During their last tenure they had brought a draconian sports Bill to take over HPCA and now they are trying it through vigilance inquiries,” said Thakur alleging that he was deliberately summoned to appear before Vigilance Bureau on the day of his birthday on October 24.
“If I can reply to all questions or queries then why can’t Chief Minister answer a simple question regarding Rs4 crore loans taken by him and his wife, Pratibha Singh from a private individual,” said Thakur amid sloganeering from the BJP and BJYM workers.