Justice Mukul Mudgal,the administrator appointed by the Delhi High Court for supervision of cricket matches in Delhi and District Cricket Association(DDCA), has blamed tainted officials of “deliberate and wilful attempt to scuttle” the current domestic season. In his status report filed before the court, Mudgal, in a stinging indictment of the vexed state association’s officials, requested the court to pass an order directing these officials to honour and implement all orders passed by him regarding the management of matches and stopping these officials from disbursing any money till all outstanding payments of players, coaches, umpires, selectors and ground staff were cleared.
The former Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court submitted the report co-signed by his colleague in the panel -- IP singh, a former deputy comptroller and auditor general.
Logo of Delhi and District Cricket Association
Mudgal also specifically mentioned how he and Singh were personally maligned in the emails sent by convenor of the notorious sports working committee, Vinod Tohara. Copies of these emails have been attached with the report. Mudgal also stated how bills and payments pertaining to the ongoing domestic season have been either stalled or delayed deliberately by these officials.
A section of DDCA -- which is controlled by people who have majority proxies and who are allegedly under investigation for misappropriation of funds and corrupt practices by multiple investigative agencies of Central government -- are alleged to be impeding the smooth conduct of matches in Delhi.
Mudgal stated how payment notes and cheques cleared by him to concerned parties and vendors have been ignored by these set of directors. The report stated that there was “obdurate and persistent disregard of directions given by me on facile grounds of pending approval from Executive Committee”. He stated that those actions would adversely affect not just the domestic season but the careers of many young cricketers in Delhi. He requested the court to direct these officials to honour all instructions issued by him in DDCA as per the court orders.
Mudgal’s patience has been tested infinitely by these rogue officials of DDCA who have left no stone unturned to discredit and impede the smooth functioning of the HC appointed panel and matches. Despite these challenges, DDCA under Mudgal has returned with profit both times that it hosted international matches this year. The Test match against South Africa earlier this year saw DDCA earning a profit of almost 2 crore. The recent ODI match between India and New Zealand made a profit of approximately 5 crores. All previous matches hosted by DDCA by the tainted officials resulted in losses.
There has been a split in the DDCA, with a section of its directors who help and aid Mudgal in hosting cricket activities pleading with the court to accept the Lodha Committee reforms and clean up the association.
