Ludhiana District Cricket association office-bearers booked for ‘fraudulent activities’

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 22

An FIR was registered against officials of the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA), an affiliated body of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), today.

The FIR was registered on the complaint of Naresh Marwaha (ex-joint secretary), who alleged fraudulent activities in the day-to-day working of the association and misappropriation of funds.

The FIR was lodged against Vinod Chitkara (honorary general secretary of LDCA), Rajinder Nath Mahajan (president), Rajiv Bajaj (honorary treasurer of the LDCA) and Satish Garg under Sections 409, 419, 420, 465, 467, 46, 471 and 120-B, IPC.

In the FIR it was mentioned that Rajiv Bajaj had submitted an undertaking that he resigned from the LDCA in 2016 and since then he was not working as its honorary treasurer. But, certain documents pertaining to 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, showed that even after his resignation, Bajaj was still working as treasurer of the association.

It was alleged in the FIR that for many years, neither the annual general meeting nor elections of the LDCA were held. But, the said meeting was recorded in the ante date of September, 2019, much earlier than it was held.

Though the said meeting was not held, in minutes it was specifically mentioned that officials were present and their signatures were allegedly collected later, stated Marwaha. The mobile tower location of members was also investigated, which proved our claim, alleged Marwaha.

“I never left the association. I saw the corruption and reported about it to the president. But, none of the officials paid heed to my complaint. Watching this, I stopped going to the ground,” said Marwaha.

“Since 2003, budding players have been burdened with fee charges, though the LDCA has all required funding and equipment to support players,” Marwaha added.

“When I filed a complaint, officials gave false statements at the police station. They said I was released from the association as a result of the 2015 elections despite the fact that no such activity was held. When I challenged them to show proof or papers, they had nothing to substantiate their claims,” alleged Marwaha.