Kejriwal appoints 2-member panel to probe DDCA scam

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appointed a two-member panel to look into alleged financial irregularities at the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). Former Test cricketers Bishen Singh Bedi and Kirti Azad met Kejriwal and wanted action to be taken against those responsible for the irregularities.

The DDCA is in danger of losing to Pune its chance to host the final Test match against South Africa between December 2-6, if it doesn't comply with the state government's demand that it pay entertainment tax amounting to Rs 24 crore. The Association has been given a 24-hour deadline to act on the issue.

DDCA vice president Chetan Chauhan said on Wednesday said that the Delhi government is demanding entertainment tax for the 2008 -2012 period during which the DDCA had been "granted exemption". "We don't agree with the amount as this is an exorbitant amount levied on us. We had been exempted from entertainment tax during that period and now we see that those exemption years have also been included," Chauhan told PTI on Wednesday.
 
The former opening bat added that the Association will appeal to the Delhi Chief Minister for a "re-assessment" of the tax.

In good news for the DDCA, it was allowed to release its balance sheet for the last three years, signed by its directors, which it has sent to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). That means the Delhi cricket body is now likely to get a grant of around Rs 30 crore from the BCCI, which should allow it to meet the Delhi government's demand.