Diana Edulji challenged Vinod Rai within the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators. Now, for the Rahul Johri issue to reach the next level (nobody, except a few individuals maybe, believes that the chapter has been closed), the focus is on the three office-bearers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
After all, Administrator Diana can only do so much and no more, particularly when chairman Rai’s interpretation of just about everything comes across as being so pro-Johri.
Anirudh Chaudhry, the Board’s treasurer, has set the ball rolling and, late on Wednesday, The Telegraph received the following from him: “It is clearly not a clean chit as is being propagated by a section of officials…
“Ms Veena Gowda, a member of the inquiry committee, has observed that the conduct of Mr Johri in Birmingham, as the CEO of an institution such as the Board, was unprofessional and inappropriate and would adversely affect its reputation. The same, therefore, has to be looked into by the concerned authorities…
“This is extremely shocking to say the least and it cannot be willed away by someone only because one may be in a position of authority...
“What makes it even more serious is that the time period referred to is one where the Hon’ble Supreme Court was monitoring the administration of the Board through the CoA…
“We cannot lose sight of the fact that one member of the CoA, i.e. 50 per cent of the CoA appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, believes it to be serious enough to make the position of the CEO untenable in an organisation such as the Board.”
Anirudh, one understands, is currently overseas.
With Anirudh firing the first salvo, one waits for acting president Chandra Kishore Khanna and acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary to make their moves.
Perhaps, from the background, even one-time supremo Narayanswami Srinivasan, who continues to have considerable influence within the Board.
With Jagmohan Dalmiya no more, Inderjit Singh Bindra no longer active and Shashank Manohar in the International Cricket Council, there is no bigger name around than Srinivasan to offer advice.