Dalmiya demands apology, threatns to pull Shah to court

Kolkata, July 2 (UNI) The war of letters between the BCCI and CAB reached crescendo today with CAB president Jamgohan Dalmiya demanding an unconditional apology and immediate withdrawal of its latest missive withholding subsidies and payments to the state affiliate.

''If the acts and conduct of BCCI, including contents of your letter of June 29 are considered, it would be explicitly clear that the BCCI is following the doctrines of unfairness and bad faith, apart from acting arbitrarily and capriciously,'' Dalmiya said in his stern reply to in the letter addressed to Board Secretary Niranjan Shah.

In a three page letter dated July 1, Mr Dalmiya alleged that the BCCI was involved in a doctrine of ''unfairness'' and ''bad faith'' in its acts and conducts and threatened to take ''necessary steps as I may be legally advised'' against Board Secretary Niranjan Shah if he did not comply with his demands.

''Without prejudice and reserving all my accrued rights and entitlements, you are hereby called upon to withdraw your letter under reference and tender an unconditional apology forthwith,'' he stated in the letter.

''In the event of non-compliance, appropriate steps, as I may be legally advised, would be initiated against you personally at your peril and consequences,'' he added mincing little words and making his indications very clear.

Dalmiya claimed that he could not reply to the show cause notice as his authorised representative was allowed to inspect only about 20 per cent of the total documents and records related to the show cause.

''It is a matter of record and indisputable fact that as on date, I have not been provided with either any intimation for inspection of (remaining) documents or copies of the same. Until the grant of necessary inspection for all documnts and papers, the quesiton of giving a reply to the alleged purported wrongful show cause notice does not arise,'' Dalmiya said.

Describing as false and frivolous Shah's charge, the CAB President said, ''the chain of motivated and capricious acts and conduct of the BCCI depict an arbitrary and malafide game plan.'' Shah's June 29 letter stated that the Board had decided to withhold payments and subsidies to the CAB in the light of allegations of misappropriation of funds against Dalmiya and said that since he had had not given a reply to the second show-cause notice from the BCCI on April 15, the matter would be referred to Board's disciplinary committee. The allegations pertained to the operations of the account number 1223 at Indian Overseas Bank's Bhowanipore branch here.

Mr Dalmiya is locked in a battle with the BCCi ever sibnce the new regime led by Sharad Power took control of the affairs of the board in the AGNM last November.The BCCI has already suspended Dalmiya from attending Board meetings and has served two show caise notices bsides filing an FIR against him and prompting EOW investigations.

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