Muttiah Muralitharan Withdraws ₹1650 Crore Investment in Kathua Over Lapsed Incentives

Jammu, March 09: Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, who holds the record for 800 Test wickets, has withdrawn from a ₹1650 crore investment project in Kathua under the National Industrial Sector Policy 2021. His decision follows the expiration of incentives under the scheme in September last year, which have yet to be renewed.

The issue was raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly during the Question Hour by CPM MLA M.Y. Tarigami, who questioned the free land allocation to a foreign cricketer while local families struggle to secure housing under the PMAY scheme. BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia and Congress MLA G.A. Mir also criticized the decision, demanding a thorough discussion on the matter.

Officials from the Industries and Commerce Department revealed that Muralitharan’s company, Ceylon Beverages, had planned to establish a plant in Kathua, expected to generate 985 jobs. However, due to the absence of renewed incentives from the Centre, the project will now be relocated to Pune.

The government confirmed that industrial investment incentives under a ₹28,400 crore scheme for Jammu and Kashmir expired in September 2024, leaving several proposals pending. Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar, assured that the land allocation issue would be investigated.