Armstrong Vaz
Margao
The Cycling Association of Goa (CAG) is comparatively a new sports organisation as compared to the other established sports in the State like football and cricket to name a few.
But officials of CAG seem to be moving in high-speed gear not only on the roads but off it.
A letter written by NG Akhargekar, General Secretary of CAG and addressed to the President, Joint Secretary and Treasurer has since gone viral and shared multiple times in various groups on social media.
In his letter dated 25th June 2024, Akhagekar has made serious allegations against three persons from CAG alleging that they furnished false bills to Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) with regards to a camp conducted by the association this year.
Akhagekar said CAG in information submitted to the Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa, informed that they will be holding a day-camp.
He informed that he along with coach Sudam Rokade, one Member of Executive Committee, had visited the day camp three times to ascertain the situation.
“There was poor attendance at the camp, with only 13 cyclists reporting for the camp,” he said.
The coach said, "They are practicing at Margao to Cuncolim road, one is from Ponda practicing and third is practicing at Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Stadium University Road in view of the above CAG conducted a day-camp only,'' he added.
It was decided that there will be no residential camp and a decision was arrived at by the Secretary General and other members of CAG.
However, Akhagekar was in a shock when he learnt that a few officials of CAG have submitted bills to the tune of Rs. 14,14,920 to SAG regarding the camp.
“Mr. Kerkar- President CAG, Treasurer - Mr. Viplav Bhakta and Joint Secretary South Mr. Placid Fernandes submitted bills of Rs. 14,14,920. This expenditure is unauthorized and other Executive Members are not (in the) known,” Akhagekar said in the letter which he has threatened to send to the Chief Minister, Sports Minister and Executive Director Sports Authority of Goa, and Joint Director of Account for the necessary inquiry in the matter through vigilance department.
“The President, Treasurer and Joint Secretary (South) submitted the bills to certify (to SAG). Since it is unauthorized expenditure and bogus bills not certified and approved by me. Therefore, you are requested to refund the amount Rs. 14,14,920 immediately,” he said in the letter.
The payments were supposed to be made to three firms under different categories-- food, accommodation and transport.
After coming across this glaring disparity and false bills, the secretary did his own investigations regarding the three firms and found they were not involved with the camp.
“As per the enquiry made by General Secretary the above parties were actually not involved in the activities of the camp,” he said in the letter.
When contacted, President Kerkar said, “The camp was conducted and the account is settled and a refund cheque is given to SAG.”
He did not wish to elaborate much on the topic when asked for further clarification in the matter.
It was not immediately not known if the concerned CAG officials have refunded the full amount to SAG.
The General Secretary who spoke about the fake bills did not answer calls to confirm or deny if a refund of a cheque has been given to SAG.
Efforts to contact the SAG officials to get their version of the issue and if the amount has been refunded to SAG did not bear fruit.
Treasurer Viplav Bhakta, who incidentally is the son of Gurudutt Bhakta Secretary of Goa Olympic Association, said three days back, that he was travelling and promised to get back with a strong reply to the allegations levelled by the secretary but in spite of repeated reminders he did not return the calls or get back his reply.
Another individual Placid Fernandes denied his role in the whole episode.
“This is an internal power struggle of the Cycling Association of Goa which has been blown apart and I do not know why I have been dragged into it,” said the Varca-based businessman.
