BCCI media manager cleared of Conflict of Interest charge

BCCI Ombudsman Justice (Retd) AP Shah has dismissed allegations of 'Conflict of Interest' against the Board's media manager Nishant Arora, saying that the charges levelled by independent activist Neeraj Gunde "cannot be an issue of consideration".
An email communication to PTI from BCCI's Office of Ombudsman stated that Gunde's application -- based on charges levelled against Arora about running players' management firm and commercial interest in a firm called 'Final Score' -- has been "disposed of".
The mail states: "The applicant alleges that Mr Arora was formerly an agent/manager of cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh."
The mail further states: "The ombudsman notes that first allegation, of Mr Arora's former associations with cricketers, cannot be an issue of consideration, and is therefore dismissed outright."

The second allegation of Gunde was that Arora's wife was Director in a Company called 'Final Score Management Pvt Ltd', which has commercial relations with persons associated with the BCCI.
Specifically, the company is allegedly associated with certain cricket academies and has also opened centre on the grounds of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Academy, which is an affiliated unit of the BCCI.

The Ombudsman stated: "On the second allegation of Mr Arora's wife's commercial relationship with Final Score, from Mr Arora's reply, received on 11 February, 2016, it is clear that Mr Arora's wife does not hold any directorial post at Final Score.

"Mr Arora also informs the Ombudsman that his mother is no longer a director in that company, although the applicant had made no allegations in this regard. It also appears that all shares owned by Mr Arora, his wife and his mother, in Final Score, were liquidated in December 2015, before this application was made by the Ombudsman.
(REOPENS DEL 15)
"With as many as 7 of the Timelines to be complied with by 30.9.2016, it is now clear that the BCCI is in no position to ensure that the time lines mandated to be laid down by this Hon'ble Court are complied with," the Lodha panel has said further in its status report.

"The conduct of the Office Bearers of the BCCI in not following the directions of the SC Committee has created serious impediments in the implementation of the directions of this Hon'ble Court."
Stating the violations by BCCI, the Lodha committee sought directions from the apex court to supersede the present BCCI office Bearers with immediate effect and appoint in their place a Panel of Administrators to ensure the smooth transition from the old to the new system recommended by the committee.
It also sought the SC bench to direct that all decisions of the BCCI taken after July 18 "which are contrary to the judgement dated 18.7.2016 of this Hon'ble Court and/or the directives of the SC Committee for implementing the same are nonest and ineffective; and any other direction as may be deemed fit for the implementation of the judgement dated 18.7.2016."

Following the status report filed by the Lodha panel, the special bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur passed stringent remarks yesterday against the Board "to fall in line" and implement the Lodha panel reforms as per its earlier judgement.
In the backdrop of the Supreme Court's ire, there seems to be no escape route left for the BCCI bigwigs headed by president Anurag Thakur except to drop its combative attitude at its SGM convened tomorrow at its headquarters here at 11:00 am.