The Board for Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly has been requested by former Punjab Minister and senior Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia to launch an independent inquiry followed by a CBI probe into the allegations of malpractice and corruption levelled by former cricketer Harbhajan Singh against Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal.
Majithia has written a letter BCCI President Saurav Ganguly demanding CBI investigation on the embezzlement and irregularities allegedly committed during the recent India-Australia match.
Earlier, former Indian star Harbhajan Singh had accused the PCA president Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal of corruption. Harbhajan Singh, who is currently PCA's chief advisor had written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, association members, and to its district units accusing the current regime of unlawful activities.
Here's is what Majithia stated in the letter:
"I am writing to you to bring to your notice an issue of grave importance pertaining to the management of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA).
The PCA has served as an apex governing body for the development and organization of Cricket in the State of Punjab as well as the union territory of Chandigarh. It has had towering figures heading it including the late bureaucrat Shri I S Bindra and recently the industrialist and philanthropist Shri Rajender Gupta.
"The rot in the organization however started after Mr Gulzar Inder Singh Chahal was elected President of PCA on May 27, 2022 after the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. He was apparently the choice of chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann who prevailed upon PCA members to drop Mr Rajender Gupta who enjoyed a wide appeal due to his clean image as an industrialist who had invested heavily in the State as well as his commitment to social causes. Thus Mr Chahal was airdropped on the PCA despite the fact that he was a political figure who had already served as Treasurer of the Punjab Pradesh Congress during the tenure of Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu.
"The last five months have witnessed the steady erosion of established norms and even widespread irregularities in the management of this august body. Your intervention has been sought keeping in view the latest attempt by the new President to subvert all rules and even the constitution of PCA by inducting 150 new life time members with voting rights. This is being done without seeking the approval of the apex council and general body of the institution which is also against the constitution of BCCI. The committee formed to take a decision on new members is packed with Mr Chahal's cronies with four out of the five members of the Committee not even being life time members of the PCA. Cricketers feel if this illegal move succeeds it will change the character of PCA and lead to the rampant induction of AAP activists and politicization of the organization. PCA will thus become a personal fiefdom of Mr Chahal.
"I would also like to bring to your notice that cricket icon Harbhajan Singh who is the Chief Advisor of PCA has opposed this move after he received complaints from association members as well as district units. Mr Harbhajan Singh has also leveled specific allegations of corruption against the PCA President. It is also being alleged that money is being collected illegally by the PCA to please the current political masters of Punjab. PCA Secretary Dilsher Khanna has also objected to this move and submitted a complaint to the Ombudsman.
"The recent India - Australia cricket match held at the PCA stadium in Mohali last month was also completely mismanaged. Embezzlement was done in the sale of tickets as well as pass allocations. Even the quota of VIP passes was misused. The embezzlement is being hidden because Mr Chahal has appointed a crony as Auditor of PCA.
"Keeping in view this grave situation, I appeal to you to direct PCA to put a freeze of induction of new Members immediately. I also request you to direct the PCA to hold a meeting of its apex council as well as general body to take the view of all Members regarding its ongoing activities. A directive should also be given to get the accounts of PCA as well as the expenditure undertaken by it in construction of its new stadium in Mullanpur checked by independent auditors to the satisfaction of the general body.
“The BCCI should also hold an independent probe/CBI inquiry into the charges of malpractices and corruption made by Harbhajan Singh against Mr Gulzax Inder Singh Chahal. A separate probe should be held into embezzlements and irregularities done during the recent India - Australia match. All this is necessary not only to stem the rot in the functioning of the PCA but also ensure a better future for the budding cricketers of Punjab,” Majithia wrote in a letter.
Earlier, Harbhajan had said,"the PCA administration is trying to induct 150 members with voting rights to keep the balance in their favour so as to have the majority. Technically, any decision like that has to be taken after consulting with the chief advisor."
“It is true that I backed and supported him, but it doesn’t mean that I will support his corrupt activities. I wanted to set a good example,” says Harbhajan who had also backed Chahal during his election earlier this year,” he had added.
