Insiders told DNA that the panel, barring Gowda, appeared to be conveying to those who deposed that "the matter between BCCI female employee (victim) and Johri has been settled long back when the latter handed over a written apology".
Top officials of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Committee of Administrators (COA) deposed before a three-member panel probing allegations of sexual assault against the board CEO Rahul Johri here on Monday.
COA chief Vinod Rai, Diana Edulji, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary, Cricket Association of Bihar secretary Aditya Verma and former Mumbai cricketer Shishir Hattangadi deposed before the three-member committee comprising Justice (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, Barkha Singh and Veena Gowda.
Insiders told DNA that the panel, barring Gowda, appeared to be conveying to those who deposed that "the matter between BCCI female employee (victim) and Johri has been settled long back when the latter handed over a written apology".
"Why do you want to dig out the old graves when the matter has been amicably settled?" was the question asked by panel, according to majority of those who deposed till Monday.
It has also been learnt that the similar sentiments were also apparently expressed on Saturday when Delhi's former commissioner of police and till recently head of the BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), Neeraj Kumar, deposed via video conferencing.
Having a look at terms of reference, the fourth point clearly stated that "the committee shall be free to seek all records/ evidence that it considers necessary to appear before it".
However, the committee has apparently made it clear to all those who deposed that "the female employee in this case would not be summoned for the reason that an amicable settlement was reached between the two parties — victim and Johri — involved".
Insiders told DNA that many of the deposers asked the probing panel, "Whether there is any legal sanctity to a settlement reached under pressure without the presence of any internal inquiry committee as laid down by the Supreme Court in Vishakha Guidelines?"
Shami's Case
A few months back when India pacer Mohammed Shami's wife Hasin Jahan triggered a massive controversy by accusing her husband tried to fix matches after taking money from Pakistani girl (Alishba) and a man called Mohammad Bhai of United Kingdom.
The COA then held back Shami's central contract and asked ACSU chief Kumar-led committee to investigate the matter.
"The mandate given to ACSU was almost similar to that of the present three-member committee, to dig out the truth," reminded a senior BCCI official, adding: "A look at the report submitted subsequently to the Board can confirm that ACSU reached out to all the parties concerned — Shami's wife, Pakistan woman and the UK contact.
"Shami's contract was only released after the committee concluded that 'no fixing was involved and whatever happened was a private affair between the pacer and Pakistan woman'.
"In the present case, not summoning the lady employee raises many eyebrows," many of the deposed expressed this sentiment.
Two of Johri's trusted aides — legal retainer Karina Kripalani and office assistant Nirmal Kaur — were released out of the committee functions after objections raised by almost everyone.
They have been replaced by Nitish Nitigya, the sole contact person for the committee.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Rahul Johri")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}