Cracking the whip: BCCI suspends tainted Goa Cricket Association officials

New Delhi: The BCCI on Saturday suspended and issued showcause notices to the top Goa Cricket Association (GCA) officials, who were arrested for alleged misappropriation of organisation funds, and initiated a probe of its own against them. GCA president Chetan Desai and secretary Vinod Phadke, who are also part of important committees of BCCI, along with treasurer Akbar Mulla were arrested earlier this week by police for alleged misappropriation of Rs 3.13 crore belonging to the organisation. BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke said in a statement: “It has been widely reported in the media that the President, Hon Secretary and Hon Treasurer of the Goa Cricket Association have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for serious allegations in connection with misappropriation of large sums of money of the Goa Cricket Association. [caption id=“attachment_2377252” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of BCCI logo. Reuters[/caption] “Two of the above members also work as functionaries of the BCCI representing their state cricket association on certain important committees of the BCCI. “Given the serious nature of the allegations, the BCCI has decided to investigate the said allegations as well and has accordingly issued show cause notices to the President and the Hon Secretary of the Goa Cricket Association, under the Memorandum and Rules and Regulations of the BCCI (‘Rules’), as to why action should not be taken against them as per the Rules of BCCI.” The apex cricket body has given the GCA officials 15 days to file their replies. “They have been given a time of 15 days from today the 18th of June 2016 to submit their written replies in the matter to the BCCI. Pending completion of investigation, the two officials will remain suspended from the BCCI committees. “Pending the process of inquiry which has begun, the BCCI by virtue of the powers vested with the President and the Hon. Secretary of the BCCI, have suspended the President of the Goa Cricket Association, Mr. Chetan Desai, from acting as chairman of the Marketing Committee of the BCCI and Mr. Vinod Phadke, the Hon Secretary of the Goa Cricket Association from acting as a member of the Information and Technology Committee of the BCCI.” The suspension comes into effect immediately from Saturday.