BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri's name crops up in #MeToo post

Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) seeks Johri's explanation within a week.

Rahul Johri, BCCI CEO. (file photo)

A day after BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri's name cropped up in the #MeToo social media campaign that has brought to fore allegations of sexual abuse, the committee that oversees the functioning of the Indian cricket board sought an explanation from him. 

The allegations, made on Twitter on Friday, pertain to a time when Johri was not a BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) employee. Johri took charge as BCCI CEO in 2016.       

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Saturday asked Johri to respond within a week to the allegations of sexual harassment, levelled by a former colleague. 

Despite attempts, Johri could not be immediately reached for comment.

“There are certain media reports today, including in the social media, pertaining to Mr. Rahul Johri, CEO BCCI. The reports disclose allegations of sexual harassment made against Mr. Johri, by an unnamed person through a twitter handle. The allegations also relates to his previous employment with a large media house. 

"The allegations have appeared as a part of the “me too” movement. Though, the said allegations do not pertain to his employment with the BCCI, the Committee of Administrators of the BCCI has deemed it appropriate to seek an explanation from Mr Johri in relation to the allegations. He has been asked to submit his explanation within a week. Future course of action will be considered on receipt of his explanation,” the CoA said in a statement.

Last month, Bihar Cricket Association secretary Aditya Verma had accused the CoA chief Vinod Rai of “covering up a sexual harassment case against a BCCI employee”.

He had threatened to approach the Supreme Court if no action was taken against the “accused officer”. Verma, however, had not named the "accused".