Delhi government probe panel questions BCCI inaction regarding DDCA mess

Probe panel on alleged irregularities in the DDCA has questioned Indian cricket board's inaction in the matter.

New Delhi: The Delhi government-appointed probe panel on alleged irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has questioned Indian cricket board's inaction in the matter.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the three-member committee appointed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has blamed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for turning a blind eye towards the financial irregularities ailing DDCA.

The report, however, claimed that the findings of the committee is likely to have no bearing on the fate of the fourth Test match between India and South Africa scheduled for December 3-7.

“The mandate of the committee was only to probe the alleged irregularities in the DDCA. The committee has no say in letting or not letting the scheduled match take place in Delhi,” the report quoted a source privy to the publication.

It said that DDCA being a primary member of the BCCI, under its rules, the Indian board does have the power to suspend the association over the irregularities.

The BCCI has washed its hands clean off the mess in DDCA by saying that it is a private body. But the BCCI does have the power to take action against it. There is a Supreme Court ruling which says that a private body discharging public duty is as accountable as a public body. The committee has, therefore, questioned the role of the BCCI,” the source added.

The three-member committee comprising of secretary Public Works Department and Vigilance, Chetan B Sanghi, secretary education and sports, Punya Srivastava and standing counsel for the Delhi government, Rahul Mehrotra was constituted by the government on November 12, to look into alleged “irregularities and wrong-doings” in the DDCA.

DDCA are supposed to pay entertainment tax in excess of Rs 24 crore in order to get clearance for organizing the match.

It's believed that the report, which reportedly contains nearly 300 pages, listed complaints of financial and managerial irregularities, and examination of DDCA’s player selection process.