NEW DELHI: Since taking charge of Feroz Shah Kotla as Delhi High Court appointed observer for IPL games, Justice (Retd) Mukul Mudgal made it a point to visit the venue regularly. It was love for the game that brought him to the ground. But as Delhi hosted its first IPL game of the season on Friday, he was nowhere to be seen.
Reason? Justice Mudgal has not been issued a car park! “I wasn’t issued car parking passes. At this age, I can’t be walking,” Mudgal told Express.
While the Delhi & District Cricket Association apparently issued two passes to all members and staff, Mudgal, who is officially the head of the affairs, was not even allotted a single parking pass. “I haven’t even got one. Even general members have been issued parking passes,” Mudgal said, adding that he was planning to stay away from other matches as well.
While DDCA officials initially claimed the retired judge wasn’t keeping well, Mudgal had a different tale to tell. “I know there are many in the DDCA who don’t want me. I may not attend other games,” he said. While he has reported the issue to DDCA officials, there has been no response. “I’ll inform the BCCI and also mention it in my report to the High Court,” Mudgal added.
DDCA officials claimed they had given passes to Mudgal. “We have sent passes to all, including Mudgal. It’s strange he isn’t here,” a DDCA official said, later pointing fingers at the franchise.
“They attended the police briefing, so we have no clue about that,” the official added.