‘It was step-motherly treatment’

DNA spoke to Potluri Vara Prasad, who placed a Rs-900 crore bid to buy Deccan Chargers

Why was your bid rejected?
You should put that question to the banks and
T Venkattram Reddy. I did my best.

You apparently were not willing to pay the bank guarantee...
That was an unfair demand. No existing franchise has been asked to give a bank guarantee. It was a step-motherly treatment. I offered Rs 450 crore in five years and the remaining in debentures in 2012. But they insisted on a bank guarantee upfront.

Maybe there was not enough trust in your abilities to make the payment?
Look, there were two conditions to be eligible to bid: suitability and financial. I was declared suitable by the BCCI after they scrutinised my credentials.

What happens to DC now?
I don’t know. They have 48 hours to clear the dues and come clean before the BCCI. I don’t know if they can wriggle out of the mess and save the team.

What next for you?
I will continue my effort to buy a team. If the BCCI comes out with a notice for auction, I will certainly participate.