CBI starts PE into KCA graft; cricket body refutes charge

The CBI has started an inquiry into alleged irregularities, including misappropriation of funds, by unidentified office bearers of Kerala Cricket Assosication, which rejected the allegations.
The Sports Integrity Unit of the agency has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against unknown officials of KCA after receiving a complaint of "huge amounts" having been allegedly spent for infrastructure development without following the laid down procedures, official sources said.
The complaint alleged that nearly Rs 3-4 crore had been spent on infrastructure development without any estimates being prepared and approval obtained from the General Body.
It was alleged that the money was shown to have been spent for professional consultancy without any official tender having been invited or agreement entered into with any professional group, the sources said. It was also alleged that a substantial amount had been siphoned off in the name of meetings by KCA, the sources said.

They said it has been alleged that grants given to the KCA for development of cricket were utilised for "non-specific purposes and personal gains by the officials of KCA."
The agency will also go into the allegation about dubious land deal for the construction of a stadium, the sources said.

Kerala Cricket Association president TC Matthew refuted all the allegations of misappropriation of association's funds and blamed people with vested interests for trying to malign the state body.
"A reputed firm like Delloite has recently audited seven years of our accounts and submitted it to the BCCI. They have not found any wrongdoing and now some people with vested interests are trying to malign our reputation. These are people who have lost elections in various state associations," Matthew told PTI today.

"Our accounts are monitored by professional people. In the last 8 years, we have developed infrastructure to the tune of 16 cricket grounds across the state. These people who are trying to mislead others with wrong information have also filed court cases and have not been able to do anything. Kerala CA is the most transparent association," he said.