'No embezzlement took place during Jaitley's tenure.'
'There were only procedural lapses and we have compounded (paid fine) for those lapses.'
The Delhi and District Cricket Association again strongly refuted the AAP's allegations of financial bungling by its former chief, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, saying the charges are completely baseless and without substance.
For the second successive day, the entire top brass of the DDCA addressed the media, during which they made a point-by-point rebuttal of the alleged charges.
The AAP, on Thursday, alleged huge financial bungling in the DDCA during Jaitley’s 13-year tenure as its chief, saying large amounts were siphoned off through fake companies.
DDCA's working president Chetan Chauhan said Jaitley, in fact, worked for the betterment of cricket in general and made the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium a world class facility, and dragging him into this controversy is uncalled for.
Chauhan read out a break-up of expenses incurred during the renovation of the Feroz Shah Kotla to substantiate that there were no siphoning of funds during Jaitley's tenure as DDCA president.
"We spoke yesterday and clarified a few points at our end. We are not hiding anything nor will we hide," he said.
"Yesterday I said the cost of building stadium is Rs 114 crore. Initially, the contract given to EPIL was of 27 crore for one block in ground floor. But when we made three storeys we realised capacity will increase to 45,000. Costs escalated to Rs 57.20 crore for initial construction. Then other additions made it Rs 114 crore, which I wrongly said Rs 141
crore yesterday. I can provide the break-up," he added.
Asked how Jaitley can get a clean chit, Chauhan replied, "No embezzlement took place during Jaitley's tenure. You can check SFIO report. There were only procedural lapses and we have compounded (paid fine) for those lapses. There are no criminal cases during his period as president. Had there been anything SFIO would have taken action.
"Also, in 2012, the government was different and enquiry completed during the tenure of the previous government and all the irregularities were taken care of. So Mr Jaitley was not in power at that time," said Chauhan.
Asked why Jaitley quit as DDCA chief in 2013, Chauhan said, "Because Assembly elections were there. We wanted him to continue but Lok Sabha elections were there. He never interfered in day-to-day working. As someone who has done tremendous service, we always fall back to him.
"Yes, we always fall back for his guidance whenever he can afford some time because of his enormous experience. According to DDCA by-laws, all powers rest with EC and president never had separate powers," he said.
He reiterated that the Delhi government has no locus standi to investigate the DDCA issue.
"They conducted enquiry, please tell us what are the terms of reference. We did not know they formed an enquiry committee. They told us please come and discuss. They have no powers to ask us questions as we are Section 25 company and we come under Union Company Affairs Ministry," said Chauhan.
On the charges made by former cricketer Kirti Azad, who has been running a sustained campaign against the DDCA, Chauhan said he was offered to be part of the advisory committee but he started forcing himself in the selection committee meetings.
"We made a Cricket Advisory Committee but then he said he wanted a room and a steno. Then he wanted to force himself in selection committee meetings where I was chairman of selectors. Now we had to tell them we brought you to advice and not take over," Chauhan said.
Asked about Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir’s complaints of corruption in the Delhi team’s selection, Chauhan said, "No one interfered (in team selection). 90 percent time we go with captain. As far as Viru calling DDCA corrupt, he will learn about how his new state association (Haryana) is run. Let us not get into that."
Chauhan also said the DDCA has proper documents regarding the Kotla stadium.
"We have proper allotment letters and lease deed has been done. We are not sitting on this plot of land illegally as AAP has alleged," he said.
Speaking about the current scenario in the DDCA, he said, "The president after Jaitleyji, we have suspended him and matter is sub-judice. He has got interim relief. I don't want to take his name. It's just that we are following due process."
Further elaborating on the break-up incurred while renovating the stadium, Chauhan said, “Pitch and ground relaying was done at Rs 51 lakh, electricity by Bajaj at Rs 35 and floodlight was done by GE for Rs 1.61 crore for lights and pillars of floodlight was Rs 2.67 crore. Wiring was done for 3.31 crore. AC super built for Rs 48 lakh.
"Hockey Stadium was renovated for Rs 300 crore and Jawaharlal Nehru (football) stadium renovation was Rs 1200.
"Contractor's 10 percent commission was also done away with. Expenses for fire system was of Rs 90 lakh, lifts for 96 lakh, Volta's AC 73 lakh.
"Corporate box earning of Rs 34.96 lakh, BCCI gave Rs 50 crore. From IPL earning, we have earned Rs 7.5 to 8 crore every year."
DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda said the report the AAP is showing is of the DDCA's Fact Finding Committee.
