CM Kejriwal forms panel to probe DDCA ‘irregularities’

The Committee consists of Secretaries of Urban Development and Sports departments. “The two-member committee has been asked to submit its report to the Chief Minister office by Saturday.” said a senior government officer.

Meanwhile, cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Thursday morning met Chief Minister Kejriwal to discuss this matter. Veteran cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi had also recently met Kejriwal over the DDCA issues.

Delhi government had earlier directed the DDCA to pay Rs 24.45 crore by way of entertainment tax. On Wednesday, former India opener and DDCA Vice-President Chetan Chauhan had said that the association will appeal to CM Kejriwal for “re-assessment of entertainment tax” of Rs 24 crore levied by Delhi government.

On Wednesday afternoon, former India Captain B S Bedi expressed his anguish in a Press Conference at Press Club of India that the association was ill-equipped to host an international match with “rampant corruption” prevailing in the Delhi state body. 

Bedi, along with former Delhi players-turned crusaders such as Madan Lal, Surender Khanna, Maninder Singh, Sameer Bahadur and Akash Lal had also met Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal requesting him to clean-up the mess.

Bedi insisted that the veteran cricketers of Delhi were batting for the game of cricket and not politicising the issues. 

“Our aim is not to politicise this particular press conference. We were asked by Arvind Kejriwal that if the Test match does not happen here then who will be at a loss and we said that the people of Delhi will be at loss,” said Bedi.

The DDCA has been set a November 17 deadline to establish its state of readiness to the Board Cricket Control in India (BCCI). 

The DDCA stares at the prospect of losing the final Test match against South Africa between 2-6 December to Pune if they don’t comply with the state government demand on entertainment tax. 

The DDCA has also sought the Delhi government’s help to stage the fourth and final Test.