NEW DELHI: The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry against Narinder Batra, president of the Indian Olympic Association president as well as International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The Central probe agency is investigating a complaint that Batra misused all of (emphasis ours) Rs 3.5 million of Hockey India’s funds for personal benefits. While it is for the CBI to decide on the veracity of said allegations, there is no getting away from the fact that the figures in question would be “small change” for Batra, who is indeed a very wealthy man.
It bears noting that Batra and his family have businesses in multiple sectors: Hospitals; Education and medical education; Hospitality; Exports, Commodities and home furnishings; Home appliances manufacturing; Automobile dealerships (Toyota)/ (Tata)/(Suzuki); Transport, LPG & petrol tankers and special trucks to transport vehicles from manufacturing facilities across India to sales outlets; Gas stations/petrol pumps; Solar power plant; Won bid for a private sea port in Gujarat; Automobile components manufacturing.
PTI adds:
A turf war between Batra and Hockey India surfaced recently after he sent a terse communication to the sports federation, questioning the performance of the men’s hockey team in tournaments.
After Batra’s missive, Olympian and member of the 1975 World Cup-winning team Aslam Sher Khan questioned Batra over his interest in matters of Hockey India.
Khan said being the FIH (International Hockey Federation) chief, Batra’s interference in Hockey India’s operations is a clear case of ‘conflict of interest’.
“Definitely, it is conflict of interest by Batra. He is the FIH president and being in that post, he can in no way interfere in the affairs of a national federation,” said Khan, who has challenged in the Delhi High Court some irregular appointments in HI, including that of Batra as a ‘life member’.
