COA fight in the open as committee formed to probe Johri issue
NEW DELHI: An independent three-member committee will inquire into allegations of sexual harassment against Indian cricket
Board CEO, Rahul Johri, the BCCI said on Thursday.
The BCCI’S Committee of Administrators (COA) announced that Justice Rakesh Sharma, former Allahabad High Court judge, will head the panel, which has been asked to submit its report in 15 days. A statement from COA said Barkha Singh, former chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women, and PC Sharma, former CBI director, are the other members.
Johri was asked to go on leave following allegations made by an anonymous person purportedly related to an incident that took place before he joined BCCI. He “submitted his explanation on October 20, denying that the incident referred to in the allegations ever took place,” the statement said.
The two-member COA, Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji, met on October 20 and 22 to discuss his explanation. Rai wanted an independent committee to conduct an inquiry “on an arm’s length basis” and it “could take into account and/or probe all allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Johri while he was employed with the BCCI.” Johri will remain on leave until the panel submits its report and action taken.
However, the COA statement said there were differences between Rai and Edulji. She wanted Johri to resign or his contract terminated as the allegations were serious and that “it would not be in the interests of BCCI and Indian cricket that he represents BCCI.”
Rai did not agree as he felt it was necessary to provide “natural justice” to the CEO by following due process of law. “The Chairman was very clear that in similar instances, the person(s) against whom allegations had been made were permitted to represent their case before an independent committee, which would then take a considered view after weighing all evidence.”
Edulji felt there was sufficient ground for Johri’s removal and told Rai she would approach amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium for guidance if no action is taken. The panel was then appointed after taking legal advice “as well as soliciting view points from other relevant quarters”, the release said.
“The independent committee may take into account and/or probe all allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Johri while he was employed with the BCCI,” the statement said. Anyone wanting to place any fact before the panel was free to do so, it added.
The independent committee may probe all allegations against Mr Johri while he was employed with BCCI