Tripura Cricket Association is once again in the news headlines, and also again for the wrong reasons. The allegations of corruptions against a section of the TCA resurfaced on Tuesday as some of the TCA affiliated cricket clubs and sub-divisional cricket associations raised several fund irregularities allegations against the cricket body.
Hitherto the allegations relating to Flood Light installation in the MBB Stadium used to be discussed in the public, but this time several other new allegations were also raised against some of the squabble ridden TCA officials.
In a press conference Sebak Bhattacharjee , convenor of the association, demanded the Special Investigation Team (SIT) being constituted following High Court of Tripura order should go for a comprehensive probe into all the allegations raised against the TCA.
In a press conference held on Tuesday Bhattacharjee , flanked along with 12 other representatives said the TCA awarded contract for Flood Lights to a company with an exorbitant rate. He said the TCA gave the work to a company for a mindboggling Rs 16 crore while for the same works another company would ask for only Rs 1.53 crore.
Similarly, as per Ernest Money’s economic calculation, instead of Rs 32 lakh, only Rs 5 lakh was taken. The deposited money was also withdrawn before the stipulated time.
Then there was engagement of an outsider with Rs 2 lakh per month only for maintenance of flood lights.
Bhattacharjee alleged that during inauguration of the Dharmanagar an amount of Rs 22 lakh was shown spent for ‘only sweets’ apart from Rs 18 lakh for decoration and Rs 9 lakh for sound system—with only four sound boxes. Total expenditure in the programme was shown at Rs 52 lakh.
Armed with several documents Bhattacharjee also frowned upon the way Rs 24 lakh was given to Belonia cricket association for tournaments which actually never did take place.
There were also allegations of fund irregularities regarding the women’s cricket organized by a company.
Bhattacharjee while welcoming the High Court decision to form the SIT asked the concerned authorities to include all these and other irregularities that beset the TCA.
(Courtesy Tripura Times)
