The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of misuse of power by former minister Kishan Kapoor while he was the Urban Development Minister and chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA).
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice VK Sharma directed to submit a report by September 20.
The court passed this order on a petition filed by Arun Dev Bisht, resident of Dari Dharmshala, alleging that Kishan Kapoor had misused his discretionary power when he was the chairman of HIMUDA. The petitioner alleged that he had obtained all documents under the Right to Information Act from HIMUDA and other departments which revealed that he had misused his official position to benefit himself and his relatives.
The petitioner alleged Kishan Kapoor allotted a plot measuring 836 sq. metres to himself in violation of the regulations. He also allotted a plot to a journalist of a vernacular daily. These plots were never advertised by the HIMUDA. The petitioner mentioned that though Kishan Kappor had returned the plot, he could not escape the criminal liability for his illegal acts.
The petitioner also alleged that Kishan Kapoor constructed a hotel at Dharmsala in violation of the plan. The sanctioned plan was of four plus one parking floor, whereas he had constructed six floors. The petitioner mentioned that at the time of construction, Kishan Kapoor was the Minister of Urban Development.
