Siding with Vinod Rai, Diana Edulji warns Rahul Johri and Saba Karim

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) has two members, Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji, and both with equal rights and mandate to reform the BCCI as per Justice Lodha Panel recommendations.

But the differences between Rai and Edulji are out in the open with Rai "unilaterally" setting up an ad-hoc committee to select the next women's team coach on Tuesday.

Rai didn't even ask the BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary or CEO Rahul Johri or the GM Saba Karim to send the mail on COA's behalf. Rather, he shot off the mail to media himself announcing the appointment of Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy as members of the coach selection committee which will conduct interviews on December 20.

Edulji now asked the BCCI office-bearers and senior employees to not follow Rai's instructions unless she agrees with him. DNA has in possession of several emails over the last week where it is quite evident that the two (COA) don't concur on key issues.

"I have read Mr Rai's mail and don't agree with it," Edulji wrote to BCCI office-bearers and other officials, adding: "As chairman, he can't take unilateral decisions as there is no casting vote for the (COA) chairman. Rahul (Johri, CEO) and Saba (Karim, General Manager), without my approval you cannot proceed on this."

The former Indian team skipper was referring to Rai's email a day earlier, instructing Johri and Karim to go ahead with plans of setting up the ad-hoc committee. "I have considered all aspects of the issue. In the best interest of women's cricket as chairman of the COA, I reiterate my views. Rahul and Saba may please take action as instructed by me yesterday," Rai had written.

Edulji also wrote about of "no action against a senior BCCI employee Mayank Parikh" despite him facing conflict of interest charges and "last year's Virat Kohli-Anil Kumble incident and leaking information to the media" are some of the other issues.

There are other exchanges, where Edulji says Rai is overruling her and ignoring the fact that her opinion has to be taken into account when taking decisions.

"You have failed to understand that I have an equal say in all matters of BCCI as COA with equal rights not less not more... It is strange that in a democratic set-up of COA, only views of one person are considered and the views expressed by the other member don't matter," Edulji obviously warned Johri and Karim of deliberately ignoring SC-appointed COA.

Why is Parikh not removed?

Edulji also brought up the issue of "conflict of interest concerning BCCI logistics manager Mayank Parikh", which was reported by DNA in the month of October.

This is no secret in Mumbai Cricket Association that Parikh owns six clubs in the Mumbai league. Former BCCI general manager, the late R. Sridhar was removed from the post after news came out that he owned clubs in the Hyderabad league. Similarly, former India selector Roger Binny also had to go because his own son (Stuart Binny) was part of Team India then.

In Parikh's case, however, nothing has been done till date.

"I urge that in the issue of Mayank Parikh, we will have to tread very cautiously as we cannot afford to have a setback on any decision of ours from the courts. We have taken the opinion of a senior counsel who has been regularly advising us on all our establishment issues. I would like to follow his advice," Rai stated in his December 10 email.

However, Edulji wrote back immediately and pointed out that COA was not doing its duty. "With regards to Mayank, we had agreed it was a clear case of conflict of interest but later you changed your stand. Conflict of interest rules should not differ depending on who the person is, it should be impartial. This is defeating the purpose for what the COA was appointed."

Rai has overlooked Edulji's inputs and has acted on own on many earlier occasions. And with tension between the two has reached this far, Edulji is left with no other option but to approach the Apex court to sought clarity on her powers.

Till then, BCCI elections, for which the COA was appointed, has taken the back seat!