Sachin Tendulkar denies commercial interest in disputed property

Cricketer-turned Rajya Sabha member Sachin  Tendulkar on Tuesday confirmed that he had attended a meeting in which he had sought help in sorting out problems faced by a friend of his regarding his house in Mussoorie.

Reacting to news reports in this regard, Tendulkar’s spokesperson issued a statement in which he, however, claimed that the cricketer does not have any “economic interest” in the Landour cantonment where the property is located.

“Mr. Tendulkar attended a meeting following which a formal written representation was submitted to the Ministry of Defence on a pending dispute regarding some development undertaken in Landour by Mr. Narang.

“Mr. Tendulkar has always maintained that the prevailing laws of the land should be upheld while giving a fair opportunity to all parties concerned to present their points of view,” the statement added without giving details of whom he had met in the government.

The news report had said that Tendulkar tried to intervene on businessman Sanjay Narang’s behalf when he met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to sort out a security dispute over the land with a neighbouring DRDO establishment.

A spokesperson for Tendulkar said he did not have any business relationship with Narang, who owns the property—Dahlia Bank—in Landour, which has allegedly violated construction norms.

“Mr. Sachin Tendulkar has no present business relationship with Mr. Sanjay Narang nor does he have any economic interest, whatsoever, in the Landour cantonment,” he said in a statement.

On his part, Narang also denied any wrongdoing and rejected reports that Tendulkar is his business partner in the property.

“Dahlia Bank belongs entirely to Mr Sanjay Narang and is his personal residence. Mr. Tendulkar is a personal friend with no existing business relationship and having no ownership of Dahlia Bank,” a spokesperson for Narang said in a statement.

“The construction at Dahlia Bank has been carried out in  accordance with the law and with permissions granted by the Cantonment Authorities. The construction is also beyond the prescribed distance of 50 meters from the DRDO establishment. In short there is no illegality whatsoever.”

Narang, in fact, accused the Cantonment authorities of harassing him. “The Cantonment authorities however have subjected Mr Narang to harassment, including seeking to illegally revoke the permissions granted. This has created a situation whereby Mr Narang has been forced to seek legal remedy available including filing of a review petition under section 57 of the Cantonment Act with the Ministry of Defence, which is pending hearing for over a year,” Narang said.

“Mr Narang has been residing in Landour for over a decade and has set up several local community development projects as well as working for the betterment and progress of the local community. Allegations of illegal commercial activity against him are false and motivated.