Former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur on Tuesday found himself at the centre of a controversy with top officials of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) accusing him of misappropriation of funds during his tenure at the helm of the 74-year-old club, a charge which the veteran administrator vehemently denied.
In a sensational development, the club management has also barred Dungarpur from representing the club at any BCCI meeting till an enquiry is completed in the case.
Dungarpur, who headed the CCI for 12 years before relinquishing office early this year, has been accused of misappropriation of funds while setting up the floodlights at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
The current CCI president, I M Kadri, has asked an audit company, KPMG, to probe the alleged embezzlement of funds by Dungarpur.
Kadri first informed Dungarpur about the case in a letter dated August 29 while the CCI chief executive officer R N Renjen sent another letter asking the former BCCI chief not to attend any meeting on behalf of the club.
Dungarpur confirmed that he had received such a letter from the CCI and would come out with his version of the story at an appropriate time.
"Yes, I have received such a letter. I just need a little time to clear my name from this," Dungarpur said.
"I do not want to say anything much at this stage. I do not see any problem in getting my name cleared," he said.
"There had been no problems with accounts while putting up floodlights at the Brabourne Stadium. Because of the floodlights we could have the Champions Trophy matches," Dungarpur said.
The CCI management had also asked Dungarpur to formally deny a statement that he had offered the Brabourne Stadium for conducting matches of the rebel Indian Cricket League.
"I have never made such a statement. I don't know from where it has come," he said.
Asked whether there is any political motive behind the latest development, Dungarpur said, "at this stage I don't want to say anything. You have to just wait for some time."
During his 12-year stint at the helm of the CCI, Dungarpur also occupied several important positions in the BCCI including the president's post from 1996 to 1998.
