New Delhi
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]F[/dropcap]inance minister Arun Jaitley’s troubles are mounting. As he battles corruption charges in the Delhi District Cricket Association, which he headed as President for 14 years till 2013, Former India Hockey Federation (IHF) chief, K P S Gill, has accused him facilitating huge payments to his daughter Sonali Jaitley from the Hockey India League towards legal consultancy fees.
The charges, which were first leveled by former head of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi, have been renewed by a man who enjoys the reputation of being a tough cop. He was instrumental in weeding out Punjab militancy as the state Director General of Police when the state was in the grip of insurgency. Gill headed IHF for years and his direct attack on Jaitley is bound to give more ammunition to those baying for the Finance Minister’s blood.
In a letter to the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Gill wrote: “Shree Arun Jaitley being the advisor of Hockey India League having no Hockey connection whatsoever got his daughter appointed on the Legal Committee of Hockey India League and reportedly paid huge sums. Shree Arun Jaitley being a very senior minister in the Government should either resign as a Minister or from the Advisory Board of the Hockey India League.”
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]G[/dropcap]ill has asked Kejriwal to probe several issues like: “The company that is paid a percentage as commission for bringing in sponsors, the rent that is shown as paid for the office [at Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate, Mathura Road, New Delhi] that is being used by Hockey India, the Lalit Hotel is the only hotel used for stay of teams/ FIH [hockey’s world governing body] officials during international tournaments, whether the arrangement for them is finalized after following a due process which is transparent, whether entertainment tax paid during the HIL held in Delhi, the salaries paid to the Indian and foreign staff and why the discrimination between the Indian and foreign players, umpires and officials where payments are concerned.”
“You may find the answers to your questions as to what is the relationship between Jaitley and Batra.” Gill wrote without mentioning that Jailtey and Batra share a family bond.
Pointing to specific issue of corruption in the hockey league, Gill wrote that a player was placed under suspension for asking high quality of food to be served to them in the training camps. “He had to go to court to get a stay on his suspension. But he will not find a place in the team. What do you say about all this, tolerance or intolerance?”
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]U[/dropcap]rging the Delhi CM to scan the list of office bearers, various committees formed in Hockey India League and misappropriation of funds, Gill wrote that “time has come to stop this Frankenstein Monster who will finish the game of Hockey in this country.”
“Your prompt and immediate action in this matter of financial irregularities and functioning of Hockey India needs to be taken up on top priority for the further promotion and development of sports in India and Hockey in particular,” Gill concluded.
Reacting to Gill’s letter, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who along with Kejriwal and four others, is facing a defamation suit filed by Jaitley, said that K P S Gill’s letter shows that Jaitley’s family members have benefited from his position. “His lies have been exposed. He said his family has nothing to do with Sports Management Business but his daughter is a part of the Legal Committee and was paid huge amounts,” Singh said.
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