After a day’s silence, the BCCI today announced an inquiry into allegations of bribery against Maharashtra player Abhijit Kale. However, in a disturbing sign that it has made up its mind on the outcome, it said Kale stood suspended from playing cricket in BCCI tournaments till his name was cleared. Interestingly, BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, who made this announcement, said the bribes allegedly offered to selectors Kiran More and Pranab Roy were for a place in the India Test team, not the A team as thought till now. The probe would be carried out by Bar Council chairman DV Subba Rao. His report, which will be ready in 15 days, will be referred to the Board’s disciplinary committee. Describing the sequence of events, Dalmiya said he was first informed of the issue during the TVS Cup final at Eden Gardens. ‘‘I told them to submit whatever they wanted to say in writing and yesterday we got their reports late in the evening. We referred them to the Board’s counsel, who gave his opinion on the legality of the matter. Accordingly, we have initiated the inquiry,’’ Dalmiya added. This is what the selectors said in their reports to Dalmiya: Roy: I was approached by Abhijit Kale with an offer of monetary inducement of Rs 10 lakh for a place in the Indian team. I reprimanded him for his audacity and misdemeanour and he apologised More: Kale repeatedly called me over the phone and tried to offer money to get selected. The manner in which he approached me is unethical and might have spoilt the image of the game in the country. Dalmiya, however, declined to comment whether any action against the two selectors would be taken if Kale was given a clean chit by the disciplinary committee. ‘‘Let the report of the commissioner come. We will decide after we get it,’’ he said. He also admitted this kind of things was bad for Indian cricket. ‘‘It is bad but we will have to nip it in the bud,’’ said the board president. However, there are two doubts about the BCCI’s handling of things. One, what can the inquiry do if Kale pleads innocence? There is no written evidence against him, just phone calls he made to Roy and More. In that case, it becomes a matter of one’s word against another. Second, and more importantly, Kale’s suspension pending his clean chit is a clear instance of being held guilty until proven innocent. Even in the match-fixing scandal, action was taken against players only after they were found guilty. Kale, too, faces a life ban should he be found guilty but it seems his time has started now. In England, the FA has come in for some heavy flak over its decision to discipline Rio Ferdinand and Leeds United’s Alan Smith for two separate offences. Ferdinand was pulled out of the national squad last month after skipping a dope test; the full investigation is yet to be completed. And Alan Smith met with similar treatment after being questioned by police for an off-field action. In both cases, there was great public outrage over the fact that the players had been hung without a trial. ‘It’s not correct, the BCCI should have waited’
