Why just six months? Probe council's affairs for past 10 years, Anju writes to minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Sports Council President Olympian Anju Bobby George, who is reported to be shifted out as the sports body chief, on Saturday sought a detailed probe into the affairs of the council in the last 10 years. In a letter to Sports minister EP Jayarajan, who had courted controversy after Anju alleged she had been “insulted” by him with corruption charges, she said government should order a “truthful and transparent” probe into various appointments in the council, including that of her brother, in the last 10 years and on various other allegations. The charges against the Council and its activities of not just during the last six months, when she was president, but also of the last 10 years, be investigated under an upright officer like Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas, she said. [caption id=“attachment_2829540” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Anju Bobby George. Reuters [/caption] Anju wanted all appointments in the council to be made through Public Service Commission (PSC). The Arjuna-awardee athlete alleged that Rs 2 crore collected under the ambitious Sports Lottery scheme, launched by the previous CPM-led LDF government to mobilise funds for development of sports, had not yet been accounted in the sports council. “This should also be brought under the ambit of the probe,” the internationally acclaimed sportperson said. “Sir, do you remember one sports lottery launched for the development of sports? Of the total Rs 24 crore collected, Rs 22 crore was written off saying it was spent. The balance of Rs two crore is yet to reach the sports council account. “I also feel that the corruption allegations against the Council should be investigated. But it should not be restricted to the last six months,” Anju said in the letter, which was released to the media. The Council’s appointments, construction activities and expenditure in the last 10 years should also be probed, she said, offering her full support to the investigation. The athlete requested a probe into alleged irregularities and corruption in various construction activities undertaken by the Council, including that of indoor stadiums and synthetic turfs during the last 10 years. Anju said she was prepared to return Rs 40,000 which she had received as flight charge allowance during the last six months as sports council president. She pointed that during the previous president’s term, about Rs 7 lakh was spent for travel expenses alone. “We had to put in lot of effort to get back the excess amount,” she said. “This time also, there will be moves to witness the Olympics at government expense. I will not back such moves. I have been lucky to represent my country in the Olympics through my own calibre and will not support such moves,” she said. The letter also requested the minister to take immediate steps to resolve certain issues over construction of the house at Kannur for Olympic hockey medalist Manuel Frederick, who lives in Bengaluru. The council had released some funds for the construction, she said. Countering charges that she had done nothing as Sports Council chief in the six-month tenure, Anju listed out a handful of projects she had implemented, including renovation of hostels, refresher courses for coaches, distribution of quality training kits and launching of Abdul Kalam Scholarship for sports students. She also expressed her doubt in the letter that the recent controversies and developments were the handiwork of some vested interests eyeing certain positions.