`Farooq doesn`t handle J&K cricket finances`

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) treasurer Ehsan Mirza, against whom the cricketing body has lodged an FIR in a multi-crore financial scam, has said that its president Farooq Abdullah does not handle its financial affairs.

Talking to mediapersons here Monday, Mirza said: "Dr. Farooq Abdullah has never even charged the JKCA for the travelling expenses when he comes here to attend the association`s meetings. "He does not handle the finances of the association and has nothing to do with the operation of the association`s bank accounts." Following reports about the alleged misappropriation of JKCA`s funds to the tune of Rs.24 crore, the opposition People`s Democratic Party (PDP) has been demanding the resignation of Farooq Abdullah, the union minister for renewable energy. The JKCA chairman, Muhammad Aslam Goni, who is the political secretary of Abdullah, has lodged an FIR with the local police against the former treasurer Ehsan Mirza and former general secretary, Saleem Khan in the alleged misappropriation of funds in the JKCA. Mirza also said he has full faith that Abdullah would soon order an impartial enquiry to find out the truth. "Dr. Sahib will act with fairness and order an impartial probe so that we are not unnecessarily victimized", the former treasurer said. Both Mirza and Khan resigned from the JKCA after media expose of the financial scam. The state police recently carried out raids at the Srinagar office of JKCA and the residences of Mirza and Khan in the city. The JKCA receives funds from the BCCI for cricket infrastructure development and other cricket related activities in Jammu and Kashmir. IANS