HC disposes PIL seeking ban on construction of Dhoni's swimming pool

Ranchi, Apr 23 (UNI) Jharkhand High Court today disposed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking ban on construction of swimming pool in Indian team wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's house and also imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on the petitioners.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Muthuswamy Karpagvinayagam and Justice D G R Patnaik, passed the order after hearing the PIL filed by Krishna Chandra Sircar and others.

The court further directed the state government to set up at least 20 to 50 hand pumps in the Harmu area where Dhoni's house was being constructed to avert water crisis.

The petitioners had informed the court about water crisis in the Harmu area.

The court imposed the fine after one of the petitioners, B P Sinha, wrote a letter to Dhoni requesting him not to construct the swimming pool as its construction would lower the existing water level of the area.

''This is contempt of court,'' the court observed and said the fine would be increased.

Mr Rajeev Ranjan, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, apologised before the court and said the petitioner, who had written the letter, would be present during the next hearing.

UNI XC-AM DPM/src1715