The Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) submitted an affidavit at the High Court on Monday in the PIl filed by Rajesh Kumar seeking action against it for having converted the International Stadium into a commercial complex, stating that the PIl was not maintainable in the court of law as no public money has been used for the construction of the stadium and no financial irregularity has been found so far in the construction of stadium as well.
The Jharkhand High Court, while hearing the PIl, had earlier directed JSCA to file an affidavit explaining the alleged violations of its lease agreement with Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) for running the JSCA international cricket stadium in the capital. The reply was filed by JSCA Secretary Rajesh Verma who also stated that the club complex inside the stadium was opened to bear the expenses of maintenance which itself comes around Rs 2.62 crore per year. The court however, has asked the petitioner to file a counter affidavit by November.
The petitioner pointed out that HEC land, transferred to JSCA on the orders of the high court under a specific lease agreement, was to be used solely for cricketing and sports purposes. Kumar in his petition has alleged JSCA of using the stadium for commercial purposes, building a five-star hotel and running a club on the premises that was also let out for hosting marriage receptions.A