NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation has demanded that Ranjit Bajaj furnish evidence of the allegations of sexual harassment made against AIFF general secretary Kushal Das within 15 days, failing which action would be taken against the former owner of Minerva Punjab FC.
Bajaj, who currently owns Delhi FC, had first made his allegations against the AIFF general secretary on April 26. The federation had strongly refuted the charges at the time and Das’s lawyers had served a legal notice on Bajaj.
On Thursday, the federation issued a statement where, among other things, the allegations were addressed: “In a meeting held earlier today (May 5, 2022), it has been unanimously decided that the AIFF will write a letter to Mr. Ranjit Bajaj to substantiate his aspersions and allegations against Mr. Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF, with proper documentary evidence within fifteen (15) days, failing which the AIFF shall take appropriate action as it deems fit and proper.”
Expectedly, Bajaj immediately took to social media to claim the AIFF was attempting to “intimidate” him.
The AIFF is facing criticism on multiple fronts due to its long-delayed elections, and allegations of financial impropriety. The latest allegations made by Bajaj, whose reputation for shooting from the lip precedes him, puts further pressure on the federation to defend its standing in the Indian sports community. The AIFF appears ready to follow up on its earlier assertion of “appropriate legal action” against Bajaj, for the “defamatory allegations” he made against Das.
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