CoA wants lawyer Gowda in Johri probe panel

Former CBI Director P.C. Sharma recused himself because of a conflict of interest.

The CoA had appointed a three-member panel to probe the allegations against Johri and gave the committee 15 days to respond with findings and suggest action

The Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) is talking to women’s rights lawyer Veena Gowda to be part of the independent panel to investigate the sexual harassment allegations against the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri. Gowda is part of the BCCI’s internal complaints committee formed in April.

A BCCI official privy to the developments said, "One of the members appointed by the CoA, P.C. Sharma (former CBI director), has recused himself because of a conflict of interest. So the CoA is looking for a second woman (member) and is talking to Veena. Many BCCI officials insist that the internal committee should investigate the charges.’’ The chairman of the BCCI’s internal complaints committee Karina Kripalani has resigned .

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Last week, the CoA had appointed a three-member panel comprising former Allahabad High Court judge Rakesh Sharma (chairman), Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Barkha Singh and former CBI director P. C. Sharma to probe the allegations and gave the committee 15 days to respond with findings and suggest action.