NEW DELHI: The BCCI is certainly feeling the heat as the 15 November deadline approaches for its independent probe panel to submit its report of findings over sexual harassment allegations levelled on CEO Rahul Johri.
ESPNcricinfo reports that Aditya Verma, who has largely been known as the ‘whistleblower’ as his information played catalyst to the Lodha committee reforms, has accused the panel of ‘scaring away complainants’ after he sought to depose before them.
The panel comprises of Rakesh Sharma (former judge at Allahabad High Court), Barkha Singh (ex-chairperson of Delhi Commission for women) and Veena Gowda (external member of internal complaints committees at the BCCI and other corporations under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013).
Reportedly, the panel hit back at Verma and former Mumbai Ranji captain Shishir Hattangadi in the form of an email which excluded Gowda from the conversation. Hattangadi had also earlier promised to depose in order to help out sexual harassment victims.
It read: “Are you friend/guardian, close relative, husband of the alleged sexually harassed lady or woman, employee of BCCI or a visitor to the premises office or in some way associated with the affairs of BCCI? How are you connected with the subject matter?”
Not someone to give up easily, Verma expressed his disappointment at the language used and the concept of locus standi (as defined by the Cambridge dictionary, locus standi is the right or ability to bring a legal action to a court of law or to appear in a court).
“This committee needs to appreciate the fact that the principle of locus standi does not stand the test of public interest.
“In the case of BCCI, which is a body that performs some public functions, the organisation cannot hide behind the veil of locus standi, especially in the case where their top functionary is accused of sexual harassment or worse. An attempt by the committee to thwart a member of the public from bringing to its notice information that may be relevant flies in the face of the judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”
“The message that your email carries seems to be one to scare away complainants rather than to make it conducive for them to complain about being harassed. It lacks the basic sensitivity required to deal with such situations.” Verma’s response read.
In a related development, the terms of reference for the independent panel probing allegations of sexual harassment against the Board of Control for Cricket in India CEO, Rahul Johri, have been “amended” to exclude two women from any role in the inquiry, Telegraph India, quoting “well-placed sources”, reports.
According to the daily, both Karina Kripalani and Nirmal Kaur, who report to Johri, are out following an “objection” from the panel.
Kripalani and Kaur’s role is being performed by Nitish Nitigya, the sole contact person for the panel to seek assistance, the daily further reports.
Meanwhile, the panel has summoned the board’s top brass such as CK Khanna (Acting President), Amitabh Choudhary (acting secretary) and Anirudh Chaudhry (treasurer) for deposition early this week.
“Yes both CK Khanna and Amitabh have received mails to join Anirudh for a deposition in the sexual harassment case on Monday at the BCCI headquarters,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying to Press Trust of India on Sunday.
“This is the right decision by the panel to call all the office bearers for helping them assist in the probe. I believe all the employees (male and female) of BCCI should also be called for deposition,” the official added.
As of now, the only high profile deposition has been of former BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit head Neeraj Kumar, who appeared before the panel on Saturday via Skype.
Originally, 12 November was stated to be the last day for deposition while 15 November is the deadline for the probe panel to submit its report to the CoA.
