NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer and BJP MP Kirti Azad considers the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) as full of ‘muck’, and said that the CBI has been right in undertaking an inquiry against the institution for evading entertainment tax over last few years by underpricing ticket prices for the most coveted stands.
Azad, who had earlier raised the issue of financial irregularities in the association, confirmed that many illegal practices are encouraged in the DDCA, and hoped that they would come out one day.
“There is so much of muck in the DDCA, which rightly the CBI instituted an inquiry into,” the 56-year-old told ANI here.
“I am really very sorry that DDCA has gone this way. We kept on informing the officials who really mattered there. They have also been served a notice by the CBI . An FIR has been lodged against DDCA and its directors. And also now recently 24 crores of entertainment tax. There is a lot of huge malfeasance there and I am sure it’s going to come out,” he said.
Earlier, the parliament had sent the DDCA matter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which forwarded the issue to the sports ministry, which is now forwarded it to Delhi Government for further investigation.
Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir had also met Delhi Chief Minister Arvid Kejriwal to discuss the alleged financial irregularities in the DDCA.
On a complaint filed by former Test star Bishen Singh Bedi and other cricketers, the Delhi Government had ordered a probe into the issue.
A two-member committee comprising of the Urban Development Secretary and the Sports Secretary has been constituted and asked to submit their report on financial irregularities in the DDCA within two days.