Clubs, ex-players demand probe into GCA fraud

PANAJI

A delegation consisting of representatives of 21 Goa Cricket Association (GCA) affiliated clubs and former cricketers submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday, putting forth an unanimous demand to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds by the present secretary, treasurer and one member of GCA.

The delegation was led by former GCA treasurer Vilas Dessai who impressed upon the chief minister about the ongoing scams and financial misappropriations happening within the GCA. The delegation highlighted that corruption was rampant within GCA and that there was financial misappropriation, cheating and forgery which led to siphoning of BCCI grants of Rs 2.87 crore and another chunk of Rs 26 lakh by president Chetan Desai, secretary Vinod Phadke and treasurer Akbar Mulla.

The chief minister was also enlightened about how Chetan Desai and Vinod Phadke indulged into financial frauds of Rs 3.5 crore by procuring floodlights, digital scoreboard and LED scoreboard without the approval of the managing committee and also without obtaining an NOC from the State government. The delegation requested the CM to personally intervene and dissolve the present GCA committee and appoint in its place a neutral IAS officer to take charge of the GCA administration to facilitate free and fair investigation by the Economic Cell of Goa Police.

It was also brought to the chief minister's notice that GCA secretary Vinod Phadke, who was indicted in the infamous Ticket Gate scam by the Pendse Commission, is also involved in this fraud.

While giving a patient hearing to the delegation, the chief minister assured them of taking the matter to its logical conclusion and act immediately by conducting the investigation thoroughly.

The chief minister opined that there might be many more such scams buried deep within GCA and said there was a need to unearth them and the Economic Offence Cell of Goa Police will have all the freedom to do so.

"It is shocking that despite crores of rupees being spent on promotion of cricket by GCA, there is not a single player from Goa seen at the national level. And, the reason is quite obvious," stated the chief minister, categorically.

Meanwhile, following clubs and ex-Ranji players signed the memorandum: Clubs -- Century Cricket Club; Sarvodaya Sporting Club; Sakhali Gymkhana; Shigao Gymkhana; Seiko Cricket Club; Pednem Cricket Club; Torda Sports Club; Mashem Cricket Club; Bogda Cricket Club; Rising Stars of Sirvoi Cricket Club; Curchorem Cricket Club; Sunny Sports Club; Bandora Youth Club; Benaulim Youth Club; Panjim Youth; Shiroda Youth; Vijay Cricket Club;Khorlim XI; Bicholim Cricket Club.

Ex-players: Namdev Phadte; Anil Arolkar; Aditya Angle; Sudin Kamat; Aditya Tarkar; Kapil Angle; Arun Telaulikar; Jude Cardozo and Nilesh Prabhudesai.