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CoA takes away all functioning powers of BCCI office-bearers

In a drastic step, the CoA cut three principal BCCI office bearers down to size, taking away their decision making powers

By Unnikrishnan
CoA chief Vinod Rai

New Delhi, March 15: The ugly battle between the two-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) and the three BCCI office bearers got murkier with the Vinod Rai-led CoA deciding to take away all functioning powers of president CK Khanna, secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and treasurer Aniruddh Choudhary.

Having already sought their removal in the seventh Status Report filed in Supreme Court last week, the CoA on Thursday (March 15) issued the diktat to stop the office-bearers from taking any decision unilaterally.

It also stopped Board officials from using the BCCI funds to meet legal expenses in connection to the Lodha Panel related cases.

The officials now cannot plan their travel and accommodation for various meetings without CoA's permission.

It has been learnt that sitting on central contracts of the Indian players irked Rai as insurance policies of the Indian players were about to lapse.

The matter became worse after secretary Amitabh questioned the manner in which CoA made certain appointments including that of a former Page 3 journalist and currently associated with a film production company as GM (Marketing) for a whopping salary of Rs 1.65 crore per annum.

"The CoA is ready to throw the principles of governance out of window. They want to take away the rights of the office bearers," said a BCCI office-bearer.

On the issue of CoA getting peeved that they sat on players' contracts and certain appointments, he said: "Were we even kept in the loop when the contracts were being chalked out? You want people to sign it blindly when they don't even know the terms of reference used for certain appointments. Where in Lodha Panel's report was recommendation for GM (marketing)? Are we serious that we need to market Indian cricket?"

BCCI officials: From left: Amitabh Chaudhary (Secretary), CK Khanna (President), Anirudh Choudhary (Treasurer)

The CoA has instructed: "Any employee/ retainer/ consultant of BCCI who receives a communication from any office bearer and finds that the same is not copied to the CEO and/or the Committee of Administrators, shall immediately forward the same to the CEO and/or the Committee of Administrators, as the case may be."

Another instruction reads: The office bearers and/or their respective Executive Assistants shall not undertake any travel including but not limited to hotel accommodations at BCCI expense without the prior approval of the Committee of Administrators."

It has come in the wake of allegations that Amitabh Chaudhary is travelling 25 days a month, staying at five-star facilities and availing premium air tickets at the expense of the Board.

Treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhry is already sidelined and doesn't attend most of the meetings.

The CoA has directed that, "the acting Secretary shall continue to sign all contracts/ appointment letters on behalf of BCCI. However, if a contract/ appointment letter that has been approved by the CoA is not signed by the Acting Secretary within reasonable time not exceeding 5 working days, the CoA may direct the CEO to sign such contract/ appointment letter.

"Once a contract/ appointment letter has been signed by the CEO as per the directions of the Committee of Administrators, the same shall be binding on BCCI."

The CoA has also said, "all information, correspondence, communications and discussions involving the Committee of Administrators and any employee/ consultant/ retainer/ service provider shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person without the express written consent of the Committee of Administrators."

(With agency inputs)

Story first published: Thursday, March 15, 2018, 19:33 [IST]
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