Death-threats and muscle power in BCCI: The dark side exposed
While it does seem that things are going well for BCCI, with the Indian cricket team's victory in the third-test in South Africa and the IPL auctions, a Hindustan Times report suggests things "inside BCCI" are pretty messy. There are ongoing "horror fights," involving death threats and FIRs, threatening two senior officials' survival, according to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri's Supreme Court affidavit. Here's more.
BCCI Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary's intimidating behavior towards senior officials
BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and CFO Santosh Rangnekar separately filed affidavits against Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry in the apex court. They both alleged Chaudhry was affecting BCCI's functioning, adding his "intimidating behavior" and threats on several occasions last year left them "scarred". Their affidavits indicate how "political clout and muscle power" are at work in BCCI; SC will hear the matter on 29 January.
Chaudhry says charges against him are false
Johri and Rangnekar also said Chaudhry was a "major hurdle" to implementing the reforms proposed by the RM Lodha Committee. While their allegations are supported by relevant evidence, including all emails exchanged between the officials, Chaudhry denied the charges against him and said they are false. "The matter is now in court...if I am asked to, we will file a reply," Chaudhry said.
Delay in implementation of reforms helping Chaudhry thrive
The SC made Lodha panel reforms binding on BCCI in Jul'16 and appointed a Committee of Administrators in Jan'17 for executing them, but they haven't been implemented. Johri and Rangnekar told the SC that delay in implementing the reforms is allowing people like Chaudhary "thrive". Recently, several BCCI units met to discuss the pros and cons of the reforms, but no decision was made.
Rangnekar would have evaporated had he been in Haryana
The affidavit also claims that Chaudhary had threatened Rangnekar on 21 Jan'17 in BCCI headquarters, saying, "If he (Rangnekar) had been in Haryana, the CFO would have evaporated by now, and no one would have ever known of his existence." Chaudhry denied the allegations.
Chaudhry threatens Rangnekar he would file FIR against him
CEO Johri's affidavit points out the "growing animosity" between Rangnekar and Chaudhry. Chaudhary allegedly threatened Rangnekar that "he was planning to file an FIR against the CFO and CEO for misappropriating BCCI's funds." Chaudhry said even if the FIR turns out to be false, Rangnekar's life would still be "totally finished" in two years. However, the treasurer claimed he never filed such FIRs.
Death threats from Chaudhary on two different occasions
After the 21 January episode, Chaudhary threatened Rangnekar twice on separate occasions. This came to light on 6 Oct'17, when Rangnekar accused Chaudhry of death threats. Chaudhry reportedly told the CFO that he should "take potassium cyanide instead of solvine (throat infection medicine)" when they were at Delhi's ITC Maurya. Later, in the same hotel, he told Rangnekar that he would finish him soon.
Both officials concerned about professional management of BCCI
Meanwhile, acting officials and Committee of Administrators (with only two members instead of the four earlier) continue to run the BCCI, but they aren't able to take "balanced decisions due to the vested interests of certain officials." CEO Johri and CFO Rangnekar, worried about their lives and BCCI management, appealed to the SC to make officials like Chaudhry "fall in line".
