DDCA Refutes Allegations, To Sue Kejriwal, Azad

DDCA is preparing to sue Delhi CM Kejriwal and suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad for “baseless” allegations.

AAP leader Ashutosh waving documents during a press conference. (Photo: PTI)

Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) Vice President Chetan Chouhan on Wednesday refuted all allegations by Delhi Chief Minister as baseless.

Chouhan, who is presently the DDCA acting president, also said that the city’s cricket body will sue Kejriwal and suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad for defamation. Chouhan said the defamation suit will target the two for alleging irregularities in the various age-group squads of Delhi and financial bungling in the DDCA.

<p>We have no information regarding the allegations put against us. Nobody has complained to us. If someone has to complain they are welcome to tell us and we will keep the information and the names confidential. Obviously, it is a very serious matter which has to be dealt with utmost seriousness.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Chetan Chouhan, DDCA Acting President</b></p>

Chouhan also said that those with any complaints should approach the DDCA.

“I completely understand the gravity of the matter. We will keep the information a secret and action will be taken against the guilty. What I am wondering is why people are levelling these baseless charges against us,” the former India cricketer wondered.

In an interview to NDTV on Tuesday, Kejriwal, whose government has set up a Commission of Inquiry into alleged irregularities in the DDCA, said sexual favours were sought for selecting players.

“You will be surprised to know that a senior journalist phoned me and said that his son, who plays cricket, was selected,” Kejriwal said.

“But his son’s name was not there in the list. And can you believe it... the next day his wife gets an SMS that said ‘come to my house and your son’s name will be there (in the list),” he said.

But Chouhan refuted the charge. He said that if that were true, Delhi would not be producing cricketers who go on to play for the national team.

<p>If you have to complain please do but I request ‘<i>ki log hawa me baatein na kare</i>’. This will only bring disrepute on us. Till now, we were being quiet and did not say much. But the allegation against us is a grave one, so we had to come out and speak.</p>

<p><b>Chetan Chouhan, DDCA Acting President</b></p>

He also said, “If that was the case, Virat Kohli, who hails from Delhi, would not have been captain of the Indian Test team”.

Apart from Kohli, pacer Ishant Sharma and opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan are currently part of the national team across formats.

Chauhan also denied the allegations of financial irregularities involving the renovation of the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium.

“We have spent money like a miser. Only Rs 114 crore were spent on stadium construction, renovation and related works. Everything was done very frugally. We want complete transparency in the DDCA. We completely deny allegations of financial irregularities made by the AAP,” Chouhan said.

He insisted that because of the increase in the seating-capacity of the stadium, the cost escalated.