The CBI has initiated a preliminary inquiry towards Narinder Batra, president of the Indian Olympic Association and unknown officers of Hockey India for allegedly diverting funds to the tune of Rs 35 crore for private functions.
Sources mentioned the PE has been initiated on a criticism obtained from the IOA itself. “It was alleged that funds of about Rs 35 lakh of Hockey India have been spent for personal benefit of Dr Batra,” a CBI official mentioned.
The fees of corruption towards Batra are the newest in a sequence of points that the IOA finds itself engulfed in.
Batra, who’s the International Hockey Federation chief, is a former secretary normal and president of Hockey India, and has headed the IOA since 2017.
The Olympic physique’s elections had been due final December however they may not be held as per schedule following a plea within the Delhi High Court, difficult its constituents. It is alleged that it isn’t in sync with the National Sports Code and the International Olympic Committee constitution.
The Association’s prime workplace bearers, together with Batra and secretary-general Rajeev Mehta have been at loggerheads, leading to an administrative logjam.
On March 29, Honorary Treasurer of IOA Anandeshwar Pandey had written a letter to Batra alleging irregularities and looking for solutions to expenditure on his workplace and the monetary dealings of an organization owned by Batra with Hockey India.
“This is in follow up of my letter of yesterday regarding the expenditure incurred on your office. You are continuing to remain silent and not reply. The delay in accounts is only because you are not providing the information requested by IOA. I have learned that few days ago officers from CBI visited the IOA office and made enquiries about your office on the 2nd floor,” the letter has mentioned. The letter says CBI had additionally met Batra earlier at Hockey India workplace.
“Is it correct that Hockey India has confirmed that it is Hockey India which has spent the funds on your office and not you personally as you have been claiming all along,” the letter has mentioned.
Questioning the dealings of his firm, the letter requested, “How did the name of your personal company Super Parts appear in the report of Internal Auditor VK Bajaj and company. Why was there a fake attempt to cover up the role of Hockey India by creating a false loan liability in favor of Super Parts Private limited. Why was a financial loss being created for IOA. Only to cover up the misuse of funds by Hockey India,” the letter has mentioned.
It goes on to request Batra to ask Hockey India to offer the identical data to IOA as they’ve carried out to CBI.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
