MUMBAI: Indications coming out of the corridors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India are that BCCI chief executive officer Rahul Johri’s continuance with the country’s apex cricketing authority has become “untenable” in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations thrown by a former colleague (who remains anonymous).
The unnamed lady’s post, tweeted late on Friday by another individual, relates to Johri’s previous employment — with Discovery Networks, where he worked in different capacities between 2001 and 2016.
Said “indications” come with a caveat however. They are emanating from unnamed board members and NOT from Vinod Rai or Diana Edulji, who make up the Committee of Administrators appointed by the Supreme Court to run the BCCI.
Coming back to the sources in the BCCI. They have told newswire ANI that they are ‘very concerned’ regarding the allegations against the BCCI CEO, adding that “the continuance of Johri has become untenable, especially keeping in mind the presence of women employees in the office and the kind of message sent to women cricketers playing from different states across the nation”.
“Associations are likely to hold a meeting to discuss the plan of action over the issue,” the sources added.
The comments made to ANI follow on from a statement issued Saturday by the CoA on the matter that reads: “There are certain media reports today, including in the social media, pertaining to Mr Rahul Johri, CEO BCCI. The reports disclose allegations against Mr Johri, by an unnamed person through a twitter handle. The allegations also relate to his previous employment with a large media house. The allegations have appeared as a part of the “me too” movement. Though the said allegations do not pertain to his employment with the BCCI, the Committee of Administrators of the BCCI has deemed it appropriate to seek an explanation from Mr Johri in relation to the allegations. He has been asked to submit his explanation within a week. The future course of action will be considered on receipt of his explanation.”
After the CoA issued its statement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday morning “requested/advised” the BCCI to not send its “tainted” CEO for the chief executives’ meeting in Singapore that is scheduled for Wednesday/Thursday, Telegraph India reports.
The matter was duly discussed by the CoA, who subsequently barred Johri from attending the ICC meeting.
The board’s acting secretary, Amitabh Choudhary, will now attend both the chief executives’ meeting as well as the ICC’s board meeting, the daily reports.
Related Report
#MeToo singes BCCI CEO, Johri accused of sexual harassment
