Former NCA CAO Jha passes away

Former Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of National Cricket Academy Retd Wing Cdr Ajay Kumar Jha died following a heart attack while playing golf here last evening.
He was 57 years old.
A pace bowler during his playing days, Jha had represented Services in 52 first-class matches taking 159 wickets. He played first-class cricket from 1974 to 1987.
The retired wing commander of the Indian Air Force was removed from his post at the NCA following allegations of his involvement in a Rs 50 crore NCA land deal that went wrong.
The NCA, it is understood, had sought to acquire close to 50 acres of land near Nandi Hills through the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for the academy.

The BCCI had also paid close to Rs 50 crore, in two installments, for the acquisition. However, following a number of PILs, a Karnataka High Court ruling in June this year declared the deal illegal.