Reports : Deponents furious as Rahul Johri’s testimony lacks audio/video evidence

Reports : Deponents furious as Rahul Johri’s testimony lacks audio/video evidence

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Rahul Johri’s deposition on Tuesday in front of the CoA-appointed panel surprisingly had no video or audio recording that has created a discomfort among deponents. The investigation committee had also made strict rules for people willing to depose at will, which was changed later under pressure.

The ongoing investigation concerning the sexual allegation slapped against Rahul Johri doesn’t seem to end anytime soon. After the BCCI CEO deposed in front of the independent panel on Wednesday, it has been reported now that the panel comprising of Justice (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, Barkha Singh, and Veena Gowda only kept his statements in writing.

This incident, which took place despite the CoA making it aptly clear that all the BCCI committees meetings would be audio recorded for future reference, has infuriated the deponents who have now started to be skeptical about the whole thing, as per HT reports.

Speaking to HT, a deponent stated, “Lack of independently verifiable deposition recorded by the independent committee when Johri deposed before them has caused serious prejudice to the case. Given the kind of stories that have appeared about a ‘most influential card’ being used, the absence of video recording of Johri’s deposition has eroded the faith of a victim who had deposed before the committee. The committee needs to realize that in coming out and deposing, the victim has taken a serious risk and a person in Johri’s position has the capability to destroy her career completely.

“With the kind of influence that is reported to be at play, why would someone not video record the deposition? What about the CoA? When they insist that every meeting of a BCCI committee is audio recorded, why have they not passed such a direction in this case? The one who constituted this committee has something that he wishes to hide? I am having second thoughts about my earlier impression about them,” the deponent said.

The sexual allegations against Johri surfaced when author Harnidh Kaur decided to share the incident involving an unnamed person claiming to be Johri's ex-colleague during his Discovery Channel days, where he had worked from 2001 to 2016. CoA was, however, quick to take actions, following the allegations against Johri, who had since then become the CEO of BCCI, although he wasn’t asked to step down despite severe protests.

Now that Johri was brought in front of the panel after weeks of revelation, this news has devastated the deponents. Another one speaking to HT said, “Are you trying to tell me that while the BCCI can pay for an independent probe, they cannot pay for video/audio recording? It did come as a surprise. Had there been recordings available, there would have been no questions of error in transcribing what was spoken in the room.”

It was also reported that the committee had earlier laid rules that anyone willing to depose would first have to clarify their position and how they were connected to the matter before the panel decided to give them a chance. However, after the board officials criticized the move for attempting to intimidate complainants, it was removed.

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