All India Chess Federation president PR Venketarama Raja intensifies conflict with secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan after Bhopal general meeting

Chennai: The fight between All India Chess Federation president PR Venketarama Raja and secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan intensified after the Special General Meeting in Bhopal on Saturday pertaining to issues with regards to Bengal Chess Association (BCA). [caption id=“attachment_7109341” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The president’s faction through a press release claimed that GM Dibyendu Barua’s allegations of misappropriation of funds levelled against BCA secretary Atanu Lahiri has been rejected at the SGM. However, Chauhan said that there will be an independent inquiry by a retired High Court judge against Lahiri. The AICF President and Secretary have been loggerheads over various issues. In a press release issued by AICF treasurer Kishore Bandekar, who belongs to Raja faction, claimed that Chauhan was feeding false stories in the media. “Bharat Singh is feeding false stories in media and without taking views of the president it is carrying his falsehood,” it stated. “Lahiri accused Bharat Singh and Barua in the meeting of defaming him and has filed a criminal case against both of them. After BCA matters were discussed, the president concluded the proceedings. Any other claims by Bharat Singh or anyone are blatantly illegal,” the release further said. Chauhan claimed that decisions taken at general body meeting called by Raja in Chennai on 14 December were overturned at the Bhopal meet. The meeting, he said also quashed a show-cause notice issued by Raja. “Everyone present was satisfied with my reply to the show-cause notice and the matter was closed,” he added. The AICF secretary said Raja faction’s decision to hold the federation elections on 10 February in Chennai had been overturned and the same would be held in Ahmedabad on 9 February under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge. The Union Sports Ministry had on 13 December directed Raja to cancel the urgent general body meeting he had called on 14 December and warned of action if the Ministry’s directions were not complied with.