Kozhikode:
The Kerala Cricket Association is alleged to have transferred funds worth lakhs of rupees to several political parties, according to Kozhikode District Cricket Association (KDCA) officials revealed here on Thursday.
A document in possession of the KDCA, which has been accessed by the Express, shows that a cheque numbered 3070 for Rs 3 lakh, had been taken out from a KCA account with Axis Bank (No. 17020180) was shown cleared to an account in the name of 'Secretary, Communist Party' on June 4, 2010.
Sources from the district association alleged that the party indicated was the CPM.
This would be a blatant violation of KCA rules as confirmed by the KCA president T C Mathew himself. "There are no provisions for the KCA to give funds to any political outfit," he said. At the same time, he reiterated that no fund had been given to any political party by the association.
"We obtained the document as part of our ongoing investigation into the corruption committed by KCA officials. We are currently probing even more suspicious looking transactions on the part of the KCA," said a source with the KDCA. He added that the KCA had given a cheque to the CPM as they wanted a bargaining tool in any future dealings with the party.
District association officials also possess the bank details of a private account listed in the name of Ernakulam District Association secretary Jayesh George, which shows that Rs 15 lakh has been transferred to this account from the same KCA account during June 2010 to June 2011.
Only Rs 2 lakh has been given back to the KCA from this account. KDCA sources also said that the association had proof of the KCA transferring funds to more political parties, which would be revealed at a later date.
The KCA and its Kozhikode affiliate have been locked in a bitter struggle after the former refused to recognise the election of M V Shreyams Kumar as the secretary of the Kozhikode body. A meeting of the KCA in Kochi was disrupted by KDCA members on Wednesday demanding that the corrupt be brought to justice.
The Thrissur Vigilance Court had directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to probe allegations of corruption against several KCA members, including president T C Mathew and treasurer G Sajikumar.
A vigilance probe was ordered against several CPM leaders, including former minister S Sarma, for loss of Rs 19 lakh to the exchequer over the transfer of land associated with the proposed KCA stadium at Edakochi.