NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said cases against Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), involving BJP MP Anurag Thakur and former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal , are political in nature but the court will go by the merit in adjudicating the lawsuits.The top court asked Anurag, Dhumal and others to inform it whether they want to withdraw the case in wake of Himachal Government decision to withdraw all prosecutions which were political in nature. "These are totally political cases but we won't go by political considerations. We will go by merit of the case," a bench of Justices A K Sikri and Navin Sinha said.It asked senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for Thakur and Dhumal, "When state government wants to withdraw all these cases, then what is your problem." Patwalia replied, "We want quashing of the FIR lodged in the case."The bench asked Patwalia, "Tell us why should we interfere when government has already taken a decision in this regard."Patwalia said that during the tenure of Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government in the state based on a chargesheet prepared by the party, the case was lodged against Anurag, Dhumal and eight IAS officers."The central government at that time after examining the case of IAS officers did not accorded prosecution sanction saying every work was done during discharge of official duty," the senior lawyer said.The bench said, "Let the government move an application before the trial court for withdrawal of cases. If the application is allowed then well and good for you but if it is not allowed then you have a cause of action to come back to us."The top court observed, "If cases are withdrawn then it will be better for you (Thakur and Dhumal) otherwise you may face reverses here."Patwalia contended that even the FIR mentions that in a charge sheet of Congress there were certain allegations of irregularities in grant of lease for Dharamshala cricket stadium. "This shows that FIR was lodged out of political vendetta," he said. Senior advocate Anoop George Chaudhary, appearing for Virbhadra said it is not a political case but there were irregularities in grant of lease. The court asked Patwalia to take instructions whether they want to withdraw the case or not or what will be the petitioners course of action. Patwalia replied that he needs two-three days time to seek instructions.The apex court had on April 17, warned warring factions in the HPCA, involving top politicians from the BJP and the Congress, from making the top court an arena for their political duel. PTI

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