Kochi: Olympian Anju Bobby George has escalated the sports council row by writing a lengthy open letter to Sports Minister E. P. Jayarajan, in which she has requested a Vigilance probe into the functioning of the council in the last ten years. The former long jumper, whose allegation of mistreatment by the minister had met with counter- responses from various corners that accused her of nepotism and extravagance, has flung open a folder of issues during the terms of her predecessors, Olympian Padmini Thomas and former Kozhikode Mayor T. P. Dasan.
“I agree with the minister on the point that there are certain unwanted things happening in connection with the council. Somebody has misled you by saying there has been corruption during my six-month term in the council. However, I request you to look into the functioning of the council in the last ten years. I offer my wholehearted support,” wrote Ms. Bobby George, winner of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padma Shri awards.
“I’ve learnt that there was corruption in giving certain indoor stadiums for marriage functions, in the construction of the Pirappancode swimming pool and in connection with the Maharaja’s College synthetic tracks. There is also corruption in the food given to our trainees.”
“It is in this background that I proposed forming an ethics commission and I had the draft with me when I visited you, but it became irrelevant in front of your rage,” she said. (Anju visited Jayarajan on Tuesday).
On the controversial appointment of her brother Ajith Markose as assistant secretary (technical), Anju wrote: “All council appointments should be done through PSC and the controversies regarding all existing appointments, including that of my brother, must be investigated by responsible officials like Vigilance DGP Jacob Thomas.”
“Sir, you must visit the Munnar high-altitude centre that was started six years ago. The facility now leaks and the synthetic tracks there are like concrete slabs,” she said. The national record holder also said that e-mails from her office were hacked and she has asked for a Cyber Cell inquiry. She also highlighted the Sports Lottery project that was run by the previous LDF government, saying that Rs 2-crore profit has not reached the council's account.
"This is an Olympic year. As usual there will be attempts made from within the council for a government-funded Olympics tour. Please note that during the former president’s (Padmini Thomas) term, Rs 7 lakh was the expense for such a tour," she said. She wrapped up her letter saying that she will repay Rs 40,000, the expense on a number of flight travels between Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram during her six-month term.
