After change, BCCI moves to trim down treasurer’s offices
NEW DELHI : A day after newly elected president Shashank Manohar announced new measures to ensure accountability, the BCCI is going to start with its treasurer, Anirudh Chaudhry, who has been operating from four offices across different cities.
Chaudhry could be the last treasurer to enjoy such privilege as the board may function without any office for the treasurer in future. “The treasurer has been operating from a top Delhi hotel in the two years. The BCCI has been paying R3.5 lakh per month as rent. Anirudh also has offices in Bhiwani, Chennai and Mumbai. Shashank will sort this out first,” a close aide of the new president claimed on Monday.
“There is a perception in the BCCI that the treasurer doesn’t need any office as most of the things happen electronically. He doesn’t even have to sign cheques as it can be done electronically. Once in a while you have to sit with auditors. So, flying to Mumbai is the cheap option for that,” he told HT.
Manohar had declared that BCCI would conduct audit of state associations to make them more responsible. It will be interesting to see whether it would begin the campaign by reducing the treasurer’s expenses. Chaudhry belongs to the camp of former president, N Srinivasan. He had submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court in favour of Srinivasan, who was seeking the prosecution of BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur on perjury charges. However, Srinivasan withdrew his petition on Monday.
After resuming office for the second time in five years, Manohar made it clear the board would not try to get even with anyone. “We are not working here with a vindictive attitude. The entire Board, all 30 members including the Tamil Nadu CA, was united that all of us have to work together to build the image of this Board. For that, we can’t fight amongst ourselves and have any vindictive attitude when we decide on matters,” said Manohar.