Almost all the serving BCCI office-bearers are raising voices against the working of COA while taking such important decision, which can affect the credibility of the game in the country
Following Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) appointment of former Rajasthan DGP Ajit Singh Shekhawat as its new new Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), another senior police officer has questioned the recruitment policy of the sports body.
In his letter addressed to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, former DGP Uttar Pradesh Anand Lal Banerjee has questioned, "Why he was not even short-listed despite being head of the largest civil police force and serving for over 35 years?"
The 1979 batch IPS officer is not the only one questioning the lack of transparency and clarity in the selection process for this high profile job. Almost all the serving BCCI office-bearers are raising voices against the working of Committee of Administrators (COA) while taking such important decision, which can affect the credibility of the game in the country.
Shekhawat has replaced former Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar, but the latter has been asked to continue as a consultant till the end of the ongoing Indian Premier League (May 31).
Even while selecting Kumar soon after his retirement from Delhi Police, there were murmurs within the BCCI that he has been removed abruptly for questioning the non-seriousness of the top officials in fighting corruption in cricket.
Kumar had headed the Delhi Police's investigation in to the 2013 IPL spot-fixing case involving S. Sreesanth and other cricketers.
DNA has in its possession the letter by Kumar addressed to Johri where he flays the latter for not even discussing such a critical issue.
"Your concern for keeping domestic and home matches protected from such elements is indeed timely, except that hardly any interest has been shown in augmenting the strength and resources of the ACSU so that it can fight the menace of corruption in Indian cricket effectively.
"Not even once can I recall a meeting in which you have chosen to discuss this issue. Not even once have I been asked what the magnitude of the problem is and what needs to be done.
"However, I, on my own, in my various presentations before you (shortly after you joined as CEO) and before the COA on 20 May, 2017, have been highlighting the issue and what needs to be done.
"Not only that, I have sent a clutch of proposals to augment the strength of the ACSU to you, which have not even received your acknowledgements, leave alone any follow up that is in my knowledge.
"As I have pointed out in my presentations, over 900 matches take place during the domestic season that include the juniors, seniors, women's, Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Duleep Trophy, CK Nayudu Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy etc.
"How is it expected that the ACSU, with a total strength of 3, including me, can cover them, or at least impart ACEP before these matches?" wrote Kumar.
Now, with Banerjee also raising red flag over BCCI's intentions and "why BCCI at the first place advertised for ACSU chief post when others were not to be called for final interview", there are bound to be fingers raised over CEO's conduct.
"After BCCI's advertisement for the vacancy, I applied to the committee in January earlier this year. Subsequent to this, your office asked me to clarify my DOB (date of birth), which I instantly did.
"Having received no further response from you, I assumed the committee was experiencing a delay when I came across the news of the selection of Ajay Singh, ex-DGP, Rajasthan for the post of head of ACU.
"This came as a total surprise as despite my credentials, which include Anti-Corruption work as the head of Anti-Corruption Organisation and Director Vigilance, UP, my candidature was not even short-listed for an interview.
"Considering the body of my work, with 17 years specifically dealing with investigation, I thought I made the cut for the BCCI's consideration," former UP DGP, who was heading world's largest civil police force comprising of almost two lakh personnel, wrote to Johri.
A BCCI senior official said, "First it was the appointment of GM Marketing Priya Gupta and now ACSU chief, it seems COA and CEO of BCCI have something to hide from all of us. We would certainly raise all these issues during the next SGM as and when it would be convened."
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