While investigations into the alleged sports scam have picked up pace with two special teams on the job, the head of the department has been quietly kept out of the glare. In fact when the file reached Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar, it was passed on to the sports department asking the Director of Youth and Sports Affairs himself to conduct a probe. And the Director of Sports went about his probe in style transferring the whistle-blower and along with him the couple named in the complaint.
The alleged multi-crore sports scam points at fake bills being raised where sports kits and equipment were believed to be channelized to relatives and known people in the department, denying the actual beneficiaries.
The probe which took off sluggishly has now picked up steam. In a swift but baffling move, the Director issued a show cause notice to the complainant and followed it up with a transfer order to the NCC section of the department. The revengeful Director appears to be scurrying to conceal the sins of omission and commission in his department instead of helping the probe.
A scam of this magnitude cannot be the handiwork of just one couple. To get more insights, getting the complainant on board was crucial. Showing hostility towards him is in no way going to help the investigation. Government should ensure that he is given security cover at least till the probe is completed. In the meanwhile, the vigilance probe should expand the scope of investigations and also include the Director of Sports. He cannot be absolved of irregularities and under no circumstances should have been told to initiate a probe since there is every possibility that he could have a role in the alleged scam.
All books of accounts and other related documents should be thoroughly investigated. The finance department’s move to form teams to scrutinize each voucher attached to the respective bill for verification is a right step, but they will also have to individually verify the beneficiaries of sports kits. The direct benefit transfer to students attending coaching camps and those taking part in tournaments is a belated but excellent proposal and will put an end to any such scandalous detours.
If allegations turn out to be true, the government will have to go all out and clean the system starting from the Director of Sports. If the complaint turns out to be fake, the government will have to work out ways to deal with whistle-blowers who literally bring departments to its knees with their roguishness.
