Anju Bobby George demands probe into Kerala sports council

Thiruvananthapuram: Olympian Anju Bobby George, who has come under attack from Kerala Sports Minister E.P. Jayarajan and his party colleague, on Saturday in an open letter to the latter demanded a thorough probe into the activities of the Kerala Sports Council for the past decade.

George, who was appointed by the Oommen Chandy government last year as president of the Council, got a dressing down from the minister when she went to meet him after he took over. The minister told her that a lot of corruption has taken place during her tenure.

Following this, George met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. After the media took up the issue in a big way, former Sports Council president T.P. Dasan alleged that things did not function in a proper manner under George and it was a corrupt regime.

Reacting to this, George said she has been at the helm of affairs of the Council for six months.

"I wish to point out that let us not just limit the probe to six months, instead we will look into the entire activities of the Council for the past one decade. This can also include the appointment of my brother. Let the probe be given to director of Vigilance Jacob Thomas," said George.

She also pointed out that "a lot of undesirable things have taken place in the Council and let all such things come under the probe".

She said the allegations and accusations have surfaced as some people were eyeing her post.

There is widespread speculation that George will be shown the door.

However, Jayarajan told reporters on Saturday that there is nothing to be said and he will speak at the appropriate time.

George became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Athletics Championships in Paris in 2003.

The Arjuna awardee has represented the country in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships from 2002 onwards.

The Congress-led opposition and the BJP have come out strongly against the attitude of the CPI-M government towards one of the leading athletes of the country.