The cold war between West Bengal government and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) resurfaced with Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders’(KKR) team getting involved in that fight.
The fire & emergency services department of the state government has filed an FIR against both CAB and KKR for setting up a special wooden enclosure at the Eden Gardens without obtaining the no-objection certificate from the department. The CAB constructed the super-hospitality wooden pavilion for Bollywood star’s guests.
The matter turned into a prestige battle, with the state fire & emergency services minister, Pratim Chatterjee, threatening to resign if pressure is put on him retract from his position. “I have gone by the rule and there is no question of backtracking,” he said. He also threatened if the pavilion is used by any one, the department will file another FIR.
Sensing trouble, Shah Rukh called up the minister and
apologised. According to Chatterjee, SRK expressed ignorance over the rules. “Khan has promised me that he will see to it that the errors are rectified. I have requested him not to use the pavilion till the matter is resolved,” Chatterjee said on Tuesday.
Later on Tuesday afternoon, a temporary permission was given to KKR against an undertaking that in case of any accident the responsibility will not on the government. The permission, it is learnt, was given after chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee intervened.
Meanwhile, eyebrows were raised when KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla visited Mamta Banerjee’s residence to invite the Union railway minister to the KKR-Chennai Super Kings match.
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