New Delhi: In more trouble for Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), the Delhi government on Thursday appointed a three-member committee to probe allegations of corruption in it and asked the panel to submit the findings within two days.
Top government sources said all board members of DDCA have been asked to appear before the committee on Friday regarding alleged irregularities in the cricket body.
The appointment of the probe committee came as the DDCA was grappling with meeting the November 17 deadline set by BCCI to get all required clearances from authorities concerned to host the fourth Test match between India and South Africa scheduled between December 3 and 7.
"The future of fourth South Africa-India match scheduled to be held at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium will depend on the report of the three-member committee and responses what the board members of DDCA gave to questions put by the probe panel tomorrow," a source said.
The committee, headed by Principal Secretary of Vigilance Department Chetan Sanghi, has been asked to examine complaints of financial fraud and structural irregularities in DDCA among others.
Earlier in the day, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and discussed a range of issues including the functioning of DDCA.
Interestingly, Kejriwal refused to meet DDCA Vice-President Chetan Chauhan when the former Test Cricketer had gone to his office. Chauhan later met Sanghi.
The DDCA owes around Rs 24 crore to Delhi government as entertainment tax. The Delhi government has been pushing DDCA to pay the amount as soon as possible.
The probe committee comprises secretary in the sports department Punya Salila Srivastava and Delhi government's senior Standing Counsel member Rahul Mehra.
Recently, former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi and Madan Lal had met Kejriwal and requested him to intervene in "cleaning up" DDCA.
"(Manish) Sisodia has asked the probe committee to submit its report by Saturday. The committee will examine complaints received - financial fraud, structural irregularities among others - DDCA," a senior government official said.
Asked about the fate of the India-South Africa Test match at Feroz Shah Kotla, a top official said, "Delhi government is keen that the Test is held in the national capital, but if there are serious issues, government cannot brush them under the carpet."
On the meeting between Sanghi and Chauhan, officials said the DDCA Vice-President placed the state cricket association's views and discussed about the entertainment tax running into around Rs 24 crore.
Bedi, after meeting Kejriwal in August had said, "We have discussed cricket-related matters including shortcomings in Delhi cricket. He (Kejriwal) assured us that he would assist us in dealing with the shortcomings and would institute an inquiry commission, if required."
Today, Bedi claimed the association is ill-equipped to host an international match with "rampant corruption" prevailing in the state body.
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