The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) yesterday termed as “baseless” allegations by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that one of its officials had sought sex for selecting players.
DDCA vice president Chetan Chouhan, who is now the acting president, also said the cricket body will sue Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Kejriwal and suspended Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirti Azad for defamation for alleging irregularities in the various age-group squads of Delhi and financial bungling in DDCA.
“We have no information regarding the allegations put against us. Nobody has complained to us. If someone has to complain they are welcome to tell us and we will keep the information and the names confidential. Obviously, it is a very serious matter which has to be dealt with utmost seriousness,” Chouhan said at a press conference here.
“I completely understand the gravity of the matter. If anyone has any complaint, come and tell us. We will keep the information a secret and action will be taken against the guilty. What I am wondering is why people are levelling these baseless charges against us. Why are people levelling charges without any proof?,” the former India cricketer wondered.
In an interview to NDTV on Tuesday, Kejriwal, whose government has set up a commission to probe alleged irregularities in the DDCA, said sexual favours were sought for selecting players.
“You will be surprised to know that a senior journalist phoned me and said that his son, who plays cricket, was selected,” Kejriwal said.
“But his son’s name was not there in the list. And can you believe it... the next day his wife gets an SMS that said ‘come to my house and your son’s name will be there (in the list),” he said.
Meanwhile, the AAP stepped up its attack on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the DDCA row, and accused him of asking the then Delhi police chief to close investigation in a corruption case in the cricket association.
The AAP released two letters purportedly written by Jaitley to then police commissioner B K Gupta and special commissioner Ranjit Narayan asking them to close a case related to the Syndicate Bank Cricket Club as he said “DDCA has done no wrong”.
At a press conference, AAP leader Ashutosh said Jaitley “was aware of corruption going in the DDCA but he tried to cover up the matter”.