CoA seeks written explanation from KXIP over Ness Wadia’s drug offence
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has asked for a written explanation from the Kings XI Punjab management over the drug offence by its co-owner Ness Wadia. He was caught in Japan with 25g of Cannabis resin in his trouser pockets and was sentenced to jail, which was later suspended.
The Committee of Administrators has asked the Indian Premier League franchise Kings XI Punjab to give a written explanation over the drug offence handed to their co-owner Ness Wadia.
As per protocol, the IPL Ethics Committee comprising of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry were to study the matter and send it to the Ombudsman cum Ethics Officer Justice (Retd.) DK Jain. However, it is learnt that the four member CoA itself will decide the further steps that need to be taken and will not hand it over to the Ethics Committee.
“The CoA has asked KXIP management to file a written explanation on what all has transpired. Agreed, the incident has got nothing to do with the league directly but Wadia’s arrest does create bad optics. Once KXIP file their explanation, the CoA will take a call on what needs to be done next,” said a senior BCCI official privy to the matter on Friday, reported PTI.
The official was also asked the reason for not sending the matter to the Ethics Committee to which he said “We now have an Ethics Officer in Justice DK Jain. If need be, the matter will be handed over to him and the office bearers can help him if required.”
Among other things, amicus curiae PS Narsimha, on behalf of the CoA, will inform the Supreme Court that 26 units of BCCI are now fully compliant with the Lodha panel’s recommendation and they can proceed with their state unit elections.
“Out of the 36 BCCI units, there are 26 which are fully Lodha compliant and we expect a few more to become fully compliant in the coming days. The report will be submitted to the Supreme Court. The CoA is expected to appeal to the apex court for an election date. As for the units that will be non-compliant, they will be disqualified from voting at the AGM,” said the official.