Saying his image and integrity was more valuable to him than a five-star hotel in Patna, film star and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shatrughan Sinha on Monday, withdrew his offer to build a world-class resort that he had earlier proposed to the Nitish government in an attempt to stimulate investment in the state.
The move came close on the heels of allegations made by the opposition leaders including Congress state spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra who filed a PIL in Patna High Court against noted film-maker Prakash Jha after he purchased lands in various parts of Bihar to build multiplexes and shopping malls.
Alleging Jha purchased those lands at throwaway prices because of his cordial relationship with the ruling NDA government, Mishra has demanded a CBI inquiry.
In a faxed letter to Director (Technical), Industry Department Mahesh Prasad, Sinha has stated that he was withdrawing his proposal to build the five-star hotel on Patna's Bailey Road to save his image and integrity, State Industrial Development Commissioner Vijay Raghav said.
"I do not want to be seen as taking any personal favor from the government. In the light of the controversies, I wish to withdraw my five-star hotel project and keep my integrity and image intact," Sinha wrote in his letter.
A copy of the letter was also sent to the deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, reports said.
The letter, however, does not mention anything about Sinha's proposal to build a film city in Bihar. "As far as we know, there is no indication that the BJP leader wishes to withdraw from his other proposals," Raghav said.