Boxing administration mess continues as elections hit by massive corruption charge

New Delhi: There seems no end to Indian boxing’s administrative mess and the elections to form a new federation were on Thursday hit by allegations of corruption with one of the Presidential candidates Rohit Jain alleging that money power is being used to “manipulate” the 25 September polls. “Money is changing hands. Even I was asked for Rs 25 lakh in lieu of being elected unopposed, I refused that and the result is now Mr Ajay Singh has sucessfully bought over members. He is rank outsider and his name has cropped up from nowhere, obviously money is playing a part here,” Jain said while talking to PTI. Jain claimed that Jay Kowli, who is contesting for the Secretary General’s position, had offered a quid pro quo “deal” to him. [caption id=“attachment_3006428” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] “He flew down to Delhi to make a deal with me. He said he would get me elected unopposed as President if I was willing to endorse him as Secretary General. I refused that as well,” he said. His charge was vehemently denied by Asit Banerjee, the convener of the co-ordination committee, which is working in tandem with the Kishen Narsi-led ad-hoc committee governing the sport right now. “I don’t just deny this but strongly object to these allegations. Rohit is a dear friend of mine and I cannot believe that these allegations have come from him,” Banerjee refuted the allegations levelled by Jain. But it once again brought to fore the squabbling that has played a massive role in the decline of Indian boxing since 2012, when the erstwhile Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was terminated, ironically, for “manipulation in elections”. The polls to elect a new body are set be held in Mumbai with Thursday being the last day to file nominations. Jain is among the four candidates, who are in fray for the President’s position with Rakesh Thakran (Haryana), Rajesh Bhandari (Himachal Pradesh) and Ajay Singh (Uttarakhand) being the other three. Kowli, who was Seceratry of Boxing India, which was terminated after a revolt by state units who interestingly passed a ‘No Confidence Motion’ against him, is locked in a two-way fight for the post with Goa’s Lenny D’Gama. Kowli has been a part of the ad-hoc committee as well and continues to remain in it despite being in the fray for the Secretary’s position. Ajay Singh is the late addition to the Presidential race and, according to sources, has the backing of IOA Secretary Rajeev Mehta. “He has been one of the 11 vice-Presidents of the Uttarakhand Boxing Association and has been regularly funding tournaments there,” said a member of the Uttarakhand Boxing Association, who did not wish to be named, justifying Singh’s entry into the race. Jain alleged that Singh has violated the electoral code of conduct by offering five-star stay to officials for a meeting on Wednesday. “We are going to be in the same situaion that was there in 2012. I don’t think a federation made like this will even be able to function for a day. Somebody might move court on this matter,” said Jain.