If reforms implemented, top office-bearers and 'chelas' could lose lakhs of Rupees

Like an onion, various layers of BCCI are getting peeled off, one by one. Every new layer gives a new dimension to the greed of BCCI officials which is not allowing them to let go of their misappropriated perks, allowances and power if the Supreme Court judgement is implemented in letter and spirit.

Revelations of the loss that the ex BCCI officials have been subjected to is worse than a 440 volt that an ordinary person would have to face if he touches a live wire — with almost the same consequences.

By being stripped of daily allowances, travel, Five Star stay, luxury vehicles to ferry them etc is one of the key reasons why BCCI office-bearers want to even die, trying to defend their 'family heritance' that the cricket set up has become for them.

According to a report, top officials of the BCCI travel for nearly 240 days in a year while running the affairs of the game. This includes attending several meetings related to policy issues or managerial decisions. For this, each BCCI office-bearer is paid almost Rs 60 lakh (per year) towards daily allowances.

I am personally aware of how office-bearers of DDCA manipulate invitations for their minions — other loyal office-bearers and patrons/vice patrons are taken for exotic holidays which BCCI meetings are. In Delhi, one office-bearer fished out bills of the then President which showed that he had got reimbursement from BCCI for to-and-fro air tickets whilst claiming the same from the host association.

He in fact went to the police station to record his complaint. Nothing happened — so big is the clout of DDCA's office-bearers.

One of the ways one can keep the flock of loyalists together is to get them nominated on various BCCI committees and sub-committees. If the Lodha Committee's recommendations are implemented, these top office-bearers and their 'chelas' could lose out on lakhs of rupees which they get as allowances.

Little wonder, in the recent meeting of BCCI state units' meeting, the disqualified office-bearers bitterly opposed the granting of powers to CEO and other key officials of BCCI.

With professional CEOs likely to be appointed in every state unit, existing Board officials would then function more like a board of directors of any company and will decide and lay down policy matters. The officials will also have to curtail their travelling once the reforms are implemented.

What will be the fun left in being an office-bearer if one cannot pocket large sums, even if it is for attending regular picnics?

During IPL Season Two held in South Africa, 27 office-bearers and their families went there at BCCI's expense. Two years back, even a government nominee director went abroad to see Champions Trophy matches at DDCA's expense. And, if some responsibility is fastened on to every role, these illiterate administrators will literally run away.

One of the office-bearers in DDCA (known as proxy king), a senior office-bearer in BCCI did not sign anywhere for nearly 35 years. The secretary on the other hand, would sign anywhere. He would not come to DDCA and several employees would be running to his residence to get approvals.

Apart from the high cost of administration, there was no control. Blank cheques would be kept with the accountants, and large amounts of cash would be routinely available in the books. This money was misused. The then President was not bothered despite being regularly kept informed. AGMs were a farce. In fact, a preliminary audit report made by a specially appointed forensic auditor is an indictment of what was shockingly going on for years in DDCA.

Ministry of Urban Development has confirmed that there is no valid lease for the land DDCA occupies, since 2002. Yet DDCA has spent nearly Rs 140 crores on a structure when the basic lease for the land has not been executed.

I have always held that Indian cricket has been taken over by free-loaders and petty businessmen who have nothing to do with cricket. To perpetuate themselves they have created a web of loyalists in the media committees and by placing loyal cricketers who make a fortune in TV contracts.

These cricketers are omnipresent on TV, in various BCCI Committees, and support roles with national teams, at exorbitant fees, and they in turn are always in the forefront of defending all wrongdoing, from DRS non implementation, to airing opposition to Lodha Committee recommendations.