Rahul Johri Case Is Likely To Go To Court

With BCCI administrators divided over handling sexual harassment charges against CEO Rahul Johri, the case is likely to land in court.

- Neeru Bhatia

Scepticism was in the air when the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) announced the constitution of a committee to inquire into allegations of sexual harassment against CEO Rahul Johri. There were doubts, both within the BCCI and outside it, whether the three-member committee would do a fair job. Formed on November 1, the team of three got two weeks to submit its report, later seeking an extension. But, the CoA is divided on the action to be taken.

CoA member Diana Edulji had stated that Johri’s continuation would be impossible, given the nature of allegations against him on social media. Edulji made it clear to Vinod Rai, chairperson of the CoA, that she would approach senior advocate Gopal Subramanium if Johri was allowed to continue. Subramanium is the amicus curiae who is guiding the Supreme Court in the implementation of the Justice Lodha Committee reforms in the BCCI. There is near unanimity among administrators in the BCCI and its state associations with Edulji’s views.

But Rai has disagreed with Edulji, insisting that an independent inquiry was necessary as the claims were anonymous. Edulji has reportedly expressed her anguish that by not taking firm action against Johri, the CoA has failed itself, and all the work it has undertaken since taking charge would be undone.