Sports ministry set to batter bruised IPL

May 22, 2012

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On a day when the IPL sank further into a morass of scandals, Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken revealed that his ministry had asked the finance ministry to probe allegations of the cricket league franchises using black money to regain or lure players from other teams.

Maken told the Lok Sabha on Monday that on May 18, sports secretary P?K?Deb wrote to his counterpart in the revenue department of the finance ministry, suggesting a “thorough inquiry” into the entire episode involving the alleged use of unaccounted money in the IPL for spot-fixing and other corruption in matches.

Maken’s announcement had serious implications. His ministerial colleague, Rajiv Shukla, who is minister of state for parliamentary affairs, is also the IPL commissioner.


In effect, Maken was accusing Shukla of running an operation that was tainted by black money. Adding irony to the gravity of the issue was Pranab Mukherjee tabling a white paper on black money. That made it a perfect kafkaesque day in Parliament.


“Let us leave it to the finance ministry to decide on that,” BCCI chairman Rajiv Shukla told Deccan Herald when his comments were sought on the sports ministry’s request to the finance ministry for a probe into the use of clack money in the IPL.

Shukla, however, sought to downplay Maken’s demand for bringing the BCCI under RTI, saying “he has been saying this for six months.”

The minister’s announcement was yet another blow to IPL, which, over the last week has been buffeted by charges of four IPL players suspended pending inquiry into charges of match fixing, one facing the charge of molesting a woman, and two landing in police net for attending a rave party featuring extensive use of alcohol and drugs.

“We have urged the revenue secretary to initiate an expeditious probe (into the entire episode), Maken said in the House, responding to members’ concerns over the reports of black money circulating in IPL. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was present in the House when Maken spoke.

The sports ministry had suggested to the revenue secretary to ask the income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct an expeditious enquiry, Maken added.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already initiated an enquiry into the alleged spot-fixing in IPL after a sting operation conducted by a news channel highlighted it. It suspended five players recently from all matches till the preliminary probe is completed.

Maken asserted that the government had taken swift action on various issues involving IPL. As many as 19 notices had been issued to the IPL and the BCCI for violations of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to the tune of over Rs 1,077 crore and further actions were being taken on it.

On May 17, the sports ministry wrote to the enforcement directorate urging it to take early action in the matter. The ministry asked the ED to apprise it with the actions taken by it, he said.

The BCCI had been enjoying income tax exemption since 1996 on the ground of it being a charitable institution. In 2009, the IT department withdrew the exemption from retrospective effect and imposed tax liabilities of Rs 118 crore and Rs 257.12 crore for the fiscal 2007-08 and 2008-09 respectively.

“The income tax liability of Rs 118 crore for 2007-08 has been realised. Out of the total tax liability for 2008-09, Rs 131 crore have been realised and for the rest of the amount, the BCCI has gone to the tax tribunal and filed an appeal. The income tax department is contesting the case,” Ajay Maken said.

The minister, who earlier had made an unsuccessful attempt to introduce a Bill seeking to bring BCCI under Right to information (RTI) Act, reiterated his demand that the cricket board come under the purview of the law.

Maken’s reply, however, did not satisfy former cricketer and BJP member Kirti Azad, who raised the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero hour. Kirti Azad, demanded an internal audit of the BCCI and other cricket associations in the country.

Demand transparency

Kirti Azad, who went on a day-long hunger-strike outside the Ferozshah Kotla stadium along with a few other former cricketers here on Sunday to demand transparency in the league, received support from JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, the BJP and Left members.


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IPL players nabbed at rave party, let off after questioning


The city police on Monday released the two IPL cricketers - Rahul Sharma and Wayne Parnell (South Africa)- along with 94 others, picked for suspected consumption of banned hallucinogens at a private party held in a hotel in Mumbai’s elite sea-facing north-west suburb Juhu.


The party event manager Vishesh Vijay Handa has been taken into custody under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropics Substances Act 1985 (NDPS.)


The police on Monday claimed that the raid yielded 110 grammes of banned Cannabis from the terrace of the hotel, where the rave party was going on. However, tests were on to determine the generic specification of the seized substance.


Blood and urine samples were collected from the two IPL cricketers, who play for Pune Warriors. They were released on a personal bond after being questioned. The duo has vehemently professed innocence and denied any kind of ‘narcotics or substance abuse.’


Television actor couple Apurva and Shilpa Agnihotri, present at the party venue were also subjected to medical tests and grilled. The couple has also denied consumption of intoxicants or hallucinogens in the party. On Sunday night, police carried out what it termed ‘controlled operation,’ and swooped on Oakwood Premier Hotel with windows and terrace opening to a panoramic view of waves rolling down on Juhu beach.


The swoop, Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP)Vishwas Nangre Patil told the gathered media, was carried out on ‘a specific tip-off; and it was a controlled operation wherein a mole was planted inside the rave party.’ The raiding party found 96 revellers, allegedly high on drinks and other intoxicants. Of them, 38 were women, including 19 foreigners.


Interestingly, even as the swoop was to take place, media was informed in advance of a possible raid on a ‘bash taking place in a happening Juhu joint.;’While most of the revellers belonging to upper-crust were released on bail by noon, some of them were allowed to go late in the evening.


The police has not yet charged the revellers with any of the stringent and draconian NDPS sections, but ACP Patil said that ‘blood and urine samples collected from the detained persons have been tagged.’

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News Network
April 14,2020

Melbourne, Apr 14: As all sporting action across the world has come to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Australian bowlers are pondering as to how Indian skipper Virat Kohli might play in front of no spectators.

India and Australia are scheduled to play a four-match Test series later this year, and it is being speculated that the series might end up taking place without any crowds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon on Tuesday said that it would be interesting to see how Kohli goes about it if he does not get a chance to get the audience behind him.

"He is probably good enough to adapt to any scenario. But I was talking to Mitch Starc the other day and we actually said that if we are playing with no crowd, it'll be quite amazing to see Virat trying to rev up the empty seats," cricket.com.au quoted Lyon as saying.

"It is going to be a little bit different, but Virat is a superstar. He will be able to adapt to any climate that we are able to play in," he added.
During the 2018-19 series, India managed to defeat Australia in Australia for the first time in a Test series.

Australia, at that time were without the services of David Warner and Steve Smith. However, the series later this year promises to be a mouth-watering prospect.

"I am excited about the prospect of India coming out to Australia, it's up there with the biggest series alongside the Ashes. They are an absolute powerhouse of the cricket world, and to have those guys out here is going to be fantastic. Playing in front of crowds or no crowds is out of our control, we have got to follow the advice of all the amazing medical people around the world," Lyon said.

"I have not thought about no crowds or massive crowds, it is just about the opportunity of playing against India again. They had the wood over us last time they came over here but we are a much stronger Australian cricket side at the moment, and I am just unbelievably excited about playing them here at home," he added.

Lyon was slated to represent Hampshire in County Championship this year, however, his stint was called off last week due to COVID-19.
He is Australia's third-highest wicket-taker in the longest format of the game as he has total of 390 wickets in Test cricket.

Lyon was last seen in action in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers.

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News Network
March 27,2020

New Delhi, Mar 27: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Friday donated Rs 50 lakh to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far claimed 17 Indian lives and wreaked havoc globally.

Tendulkar's donation is so far the biggest contribution among India's leading sportspersons, some of whom have pledged their salaries while a few others have donated medical equipment to fight the dreaded outbreak, which has caused more than 24,000 deaths globally.

"Sachin Tendulkar decided to contribute Rs 25 lakh each to Prime Minister's Relief Fund and Chief Minister's Relief Fund in his bid to join the fight against COVID-19. It was his decision that he wanted to contribute to both funds," a source privy to the development, told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Tendulkar has been associated with a lot of charity work and there has been umpteen times, he has taken up social causes, helped people, which has never been brought to public notice.

Among other prominent cricketers, the Pathan brothers -- Irfan and Yusuf -- donated 4000 face masks to Baroda police and health department while Mahendra Singh Dhoni, through a Pune based NGO, made a contribution of Rs 1 lakh.

Among athletes from other disciplines, wrestler Bajrang Punia and sprinter Hima Das are some of the prominent names to have donated their salaries in the battle against the dreaded virus which has led to a 21-day national lockdown.

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Agencies
January 26,2020

New Delhi, Jan 26: The sports fraternity on Sunday extended greetings to the people on the occasion of the 71st Republic Day.

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to write: "Wishing all Indians a very happy Republic Day."
"Rejoice the Glory of India and it's Freedom Fighters on this Republic Day. Wish you a very happy #RepublicDayIndia . Jai Hind !" former batsman VVS Laxman tweeted.

"Wish you all a very happy #RepublicDay2020 from here in New Zealand," Irfan Pathan tweeted.

Boxer Vijender Singh said India is blessed with different religions, societies, cultures and languages.

"INDIA is a nation where humanity has lived since ages.It is a country which is blessed with different religions,societies,cultures & languages all interplaying with each other in harmony. PROUD OF UNITY IN DIVERSITY #RepublicDayIndia #RepublicDay2020," Singh wrote on the micro-blogging site.

Former cricketer Virender Sehwag, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, wrestler Sushil Kumar and tennis player Sania Mirza also extended their greetings on the occasion.

On this day, 70 years back, India officially adopted its Constitution. Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro is the chief guest at the parade this year.

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