Kejriwal appointed panel says suspend DDCA, bring it under RTI

The panel appointed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has rubbished the BCCI's claims of there being no irregularities in the DDCA, and has suggested the suspension of the cricket board which is under scrutiny.

According to a CNN-IBN report, the panel has also suggested that only a body of professional cricketers must be involved with the administration of cricket in Delhi, and said that the DDCA should be brought under the purview of the RTI (Right to Information Act).

The developments indicate that in all likelihood, the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi will not be the venue of the 4th test between India and South Africa which is scheduled to be played between 3 and 7 December.

The DDCA were to pay pending entertainment taxes in excess of Rs 24 crore to the state government, to obtain a clearance to host the test match. The DCCA were given a deadline of 17 November to pay up.

The last two days have seen the treasurer of the DDCA, Ravinder Manchanda, and vice-president Chetan Chauhan meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to resolve the issue of the "exorbitant entertainment tax".

Manchanda told PTI, "Chetan Chauhan and I met the CM yesterday and we told them about the exorbitant entertainment tax levied. Mr Kejriwal told us to get in touch with the relevant tax commissioner Sanjay Kumar."

"When we met the tax commissioner, he told us to file an appeal. There was no discussion on exemption but he said that he will issue a letter keeping the tax amount in abeyance. Which meant that matter will be resolved after the Test is over."

"Accordingly, we were told to come to commissioner Kumar's office at 4 pm. When we came, we were suddenly told by Kumar that they will get back to us late evening," Manchanda said.

With PTI inputs