Exhaustive powers given to Johri probe panel

The three-member independent committee formed to investigate the sexual harassment allegations against the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has been given exhaustive powers to investigate the case.

BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri's name cropped up in the #MeToo social media campaign earlier this month. (file photo)

The three-member independent committee formed to investigate the sexual harassment allegations against the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) CEO Rahul Johri has been given exhaustive powers to investigate the case.

The three member committee consists of Rakesh Sharma (former Judge, Allahabad High Court), Barkha Singh (former Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women) and Ms. Veena Gowda (Advocate), External Member IC, BCCI.

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

According to terms of reference,

(1) The committee shall inquire into and/or probe allegations of sexual harassment that have been made against Rahul Johri whether anonymous or otherwise

(2) The committee shall inquire whether they relate prior to his employment with BCCI or otherwise, in accordance with law

(3) The Committee shall submit a report containing its findings and recommendations in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators for the BCCI within 15 days of its appointment

(4) The proceedings and the deliberations of the Committee, including the name and identity of any complainant who comes forward before the Committee, if any, shall be kept strictly confidential

(5) Rahul Johri shall be obligated to keep all the information disclosed to him during the course of the proceedings strictly confidential

(6) Any person who is desirous of placing any fact before the Committee shall be free to do so. For this purpose, the Committee shall issue an appropriate public notice, containing relevant contact details/email id(s) and co-ordinates for submission of information and timeline for doing so, which shall be published on the BCCI website and/or any other medium, as it may deem fit.

Earlier this month, Johri's name cropped up in the #MeToo social media campaign that has brought to fore allegations of sexual abuse. The allegations, made on Twitter pertain to a time when Johri was not a BCCI employee. Johri took charge as BCCI CEO in 2016.     

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

The CoA formed a three-member independent panel to inquire into the allegations last week.