Also asks BCCI to order separate probe into embezzlement done during India-Australia match
Says accusations made by former Cricketer Harbhajan Singh as well as others should be probed thoroughly
Chandigarh (Bindu Singh) : Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia today requested the Board for Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to hold an independent probe including a CBI inquiry into the charges of malpractices and corruption made by former cricketer Harbhajan Singh against Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal.
In letters to both BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah, the former minister said a separate probe should also be held into embezzlement and irregularities done during the recent India – Australia match. “All this is necessary not only to stem the rot in the functioning of the PCA but also ensure a better future for the budding cricketers of Punjab”.
Giving details, Mr Bikram Majithia said the rot in the PCA started after Mr Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal was elected President on May 27 after the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. He said Mr Chahal was apparently the choice of chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann who prevailed upon PCA members to drop Mr Rajender Gupta who enjoyed a wide appeal due to his clean image as well as his commitment to social causes. “Thus Mr Chahal was air dropped on the PCA despite the fact that he was a political figure who had already served as Treasurer of the Punjab Pradesh Congress during the tenure of Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu”.
In his letter to the BCCI President and Secretary, Mr Majithia said the last five months had witnessed the steady erosion of established norms and even widespread irregularities in the management of PCA and sought their intervention to set things right. He said the PCA President was subverting the constitution by inducting 150 new life time members with voting rights. “This is being done without seeking the approval of the apex council and general body of the institution which is also against the constitution of BCCI”. Mr Majithia also highlighted how the Committee which had been appointed to select the new life time members was packed with Mr Chahal’s cronies with four out of the five members not even being life time members of the PCA. “Cricketers feel if this illegal move succeeds it will change the character of PCA and lead to the rampant induction of AAP activists and politicization of the organization. PCA will thus become a personal fiefdom of Mr Chahal”, Mr Majithia asserted.
The former minister said former Cricketer Harbhajan Singh, who was the Chief Advisor of PCA, had also opposed this move after he received complaints from association members as well as district units. “Mr Harbhajan Singh has also leveled specific allegations of corruption against the PCA President. It is also being alleged that money is being collected illegally by the PCA to please the current political masters of Punjab. PCA Secretary Dilsher Khanna has also objected to this move and submitted a complaint to the Ombudsman. Both these complaints should be probed thoroughly”.
He also highlighted how the recent India – Australia cricket match held at the PCA stadium in Mohali last month was also completely mismanaged. “Embezzlement was done in sale of tickets as well as pass allocations. Even the quota of VIP passes was misused”. He said this embezzlement had been hidden because Mr Chahal had appointed a crony as Auditor of PCA.
Mr Majithia urged the BCCI to direct PCA to put a freeze on induction of new Members immediately. He said PCA should also be asked to hold a meeting of its apex council as well as general body to take the view of all Members regarding its ongoing activities. “A directive should also be issued to get the accounts of PCA as well as the expenditure undertaken by it in construction of its new stadium in Mullanpur checked by independent auditors to the satisfaction of the general body”.
