Sport - Cricket

Case registered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has registered a case against 93 persons, all connected with the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), in accordance with the directive issued to it by the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance), Thrissur, on November 12 last year.

The directive by the Vigilance court, Thrissur, was issued on the basis of a complaint filed by K. Balaji Iyengar, a chartered accountant and former State junior player, citing corrupt practices within the KCA under several heads.

The case was filed by the Ernakulam office of the VACB on Thursday after making a preliminary inquiry into the facts mentioned in the petition. Accordingly, the KCA secretary, T.C. Mathew has been named the first accused and the KCA president, T.R. Balakrishnan and treasurer, A. Salim as the second and third accused respectively.

The rest of the accused include other office-bearers of the KCA, its sub-committee members, District Cricket Association officials, coaches and players.

Meanwhile, the Sports Minister, M. Vijayakumar told the media that the Government would like the law to take its own course. “Let the enquiry be done in an impartial manner and the truth come out.”

He said that the Government was in receipt of several complaints with regard to the corruption within the KCA and the same was under its scrutiny.

The Kerala Cricketers Forum, which was the first body to rake up the issue, in a statement, demanded the immediate resignation of all office-bearers of the KCA to ensure a free and fair inquiry. “It is also hoped that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will appoint an ad-hoc committee to look after the affairs of the KCA in the event of the resignation of the present office-bearers.” — Special Correspondent

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