MP expresses shock over demand of character certificate from Dhoni

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) Expressing shock over the demand of character certificate from Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for procuring a pistol, Rajya Sabha MP, S S Ahluwalia termed it as a ridiculous insistence by the state administration.

The Ranchi district administration has asked Dhoni to furnish a character certificate from SP (Vigilance), SP (CID) and SP (Special Branch) if he wants to procure a license for the 9 mm pistol.

The authorities said the certificate was required in the wake of spurt in naxalite activities in Jharkhand.

In his letter to the chief secretary Jharkhand, Ahluwalia stated that ''The news, if true, of such an incredibly ridiculous insistence by the state administration, in utter disregard to the fact that M S Dhoni, an internationally acclaimed sportsperson, has brought laurel to the state, should grivously shock not only the sports loving fraternity across the country but also the members of intelligentsia in Jharkhand, in particular, for the antiquity of the mind-set of the state's bureacracy.'' Dhoni had applied for the license in August, 2008 but official communication was received only after three months.

The Ranchi district arms magistrate dashed a letter to Dhoni, asking him to get a character certificate from SP (Vigilance), SP (CID) and SP (Special Branch).

''I strongly feel that the incumbent officials of the state administration who are not bothered to keep themselves updated of the personal profolesof distinguished people of Jharkhand like Dhoni, should be treated as intellectually unfit to be in the administration,'' he added in his letter.

UNI RAR RKM PM1707