With Justice (Retd.) Mukul Mudgal having completed his High Court-directed assignment of conducting matches at the Feroz Shah Kotla, the power struggle in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has resurfaced. The DDCA, under investigation for alleged financial irregularities, was rocked by a letter written by its acting president and former India opener Chetan Chauhan, today.
Addressed to the DDCA directors, the letter slams former president of the association — S. P. Bansal — for his dubious style of functioning. Chauhan’s letter was a response to one of the director’s queries on his role as the acting President, payments made to Justice Mudgal and what the fate of Bansal will be.
“As far as Mr. S. P. Bansal, former president, is concerned, there are serious charges of embezzlement of Rs. 1,55,50,000 against him, besides purchasing tickets from GMR without approval worth over Rs. 70 lakhs and also claiming travelling/daily allowances from both the DDCA as well as the BCCI. No court has exonerated him from these serious and grave charges,” wrote Chauhan.
Chauhan pointed out, “You may be aware that there are enquiries being conducted by the Registrar of Companies and the CBI into the various irregularities and frauds committed in the association. It is a Herculean task answering the questions/queries being raised by these agencies, which run into hundreds of pages.”
He noted, “lt is on very technical ground that some stay has been granted on the executive committee meetings. The matter is still sub-judice and I do not want to comment on this issue any further. However, I am enclosing a copy of the judgement of Supreme Court, which is self-explanatory.”
Attacking Bansal for his tumultuous tenure that invited trouble for DDCA, Chauhan said, “Let me point out categorically that activities of Mr. S. P. Bansal have tarnished the image of the association and greatly jeopardised its functioning. Today whether it is Delhi or any part of the country, people think that the office-bearers of DDCA are corrupt and have siphoned money.”
On behalf of his team, Chauhan assured the directors, “I may also put it plainly that so far I am an office-bearer, we will not allow any financial corruption or siphoning/embezzlement to take place in the association. This is a cricket association for cricket and I agree that there is an executive committee/directors, elected by 4300 members of the association.”
Chauhan was pained at the falling reputation of the cricket administration in the country. “It is only because of misdeeds of some of the office-bearers in the associations and some owners of the franchise of the IPL that the Lodha Committee was been formed by the Supreme Court of India to remove corruption in the BCCI as well as in the associations. Needless to say, the Supreme Court is very harsh towards BCCI and the associations.”
Chauhan lauded the efforts of Justice Mudgal and those involved in salvaging the image of the DDCA. “We are very happy to inform you and the members of the executive committee that in view of the successful organisation of the Test Match against South Africa, T20 World Cup matches that DDCA (was) allotted two (playoff) matches by the IPL Governing Committee. This is because of the efforts of the various directors, who were bestowed with the responsibilities and under the able supervision of Mr. Mudgal, Chief Justice (Retd.).”
On objections to being referred to as DDCA acting president, Chauhan concluded, “Let me make it very clear that it was only a working arrangement done through resolution by circulation that I have functioned as the working president, a responsibility given by majority of the directors. I am an international cricket player and I have always worked honestly and sincerely in the interest of the association. The responsibility fell on me as some others refused to accept it.”
The letter is likely to create a storm in the DDCA.
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