Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced another setback from Supreme Court appointed Lodha panel as the committee told banks to halt disbursements to BCCI. The meeting held on September 30 saw board take financial decisions.
“It has come to the notice of this Committee that certain decisions have been taken at the ‘Emergent Working Committee’ meeting of the BCCI on 30th September 2016 to disburse large funds to the various member associations,” the committee has stated in a letter to the banks.
The letter has also been addressed to BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke, CEO Rahul Johri and Treasurer Anirudh Choudhary.
“You are aware that by way of this Committee’s direction dated 31.8.2016, no further decisions were to be taken regarding the future apart from routine matters. The disbursement of these amounts are not routine, and in any case, not emergent,” the committee said.
Lodha committee further added that,” “You are also aware that the BCCI has chosen to breach the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as the first set of Timelines set out by this Committee which includes the Fund Disbursement policy to be framed by 30.9.2016.
“As the status report is to be taken up for directions by the Hon’ble Court on Thursday, 6.10.2016, you are hereby directed not to take any steps towards financial disbursement of the amounts as resolved/approved after the direction dated 31.8.2016. Any violation of this direction will be placed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court for appropriate directions,” it added.
The battle is going on for quite some time and both parties are firm on their stand. BCCI is in no mood to back down and has taken a very strong and stubborn view of the proceedings. Chief Justice of India TS Thakur has said in no uncertain terms that BCCI is accountable and cannot behave as if they are autonomous.
The next few days are going to be crucial in the ongoing saga. It is up to the world’s richest cricketing body to decide where to draw the line as it is coming out as an act of defiance in public domain.