Mudgal slams CK Khanna, 'the most pernicious influence' in DDCA

The Mudgal Report has admonished CK Khanna, vice-president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) since 1982, saying his "pernicious influence" is responsible for the "major ills" of the premier state association. The remarks about Khanna are doubly concerning because he is also the vice-president of the BCCI from the central zone.

"The major ills of the DDCA can be traced to a long-serving vice-president of DDCA," the Mudgal report, which was submitted in Delhi High Court on Monday, said. The report was prepared by Justice Mukul Mudgal, the former chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was appointed this February to oversee the conduct of matches at Feroz Shah Kotla during the World T20 and IPL, between March and May.

While he highlighted in detail the various problems that have plagued the DDCA for many years now, Mudgal reserved his sternest words for Khanna. "It was seen during my tenure that there is no transparency or accountability in the functioning of the some senior office bearers of DDCA," the report said. "The most pernicious influence affecting DDCA's administration is the ever-present Mr CK Khanna, who is the vice-president of DDCA for several years and also happens to be the vice-president of BCCI, though from the central zone. He controls a large number of proxies and, accordingly, has a strong hold in DDCA."

The proxies, Mudgal pointed out in the report, are the thousands of members of DDCA who are given one complimentary pass for every match conducted at Feroz Shah Kotla. The only purpose these members serve, he said, is that of voting during the DDCA executive committee elections.

In his conclusions, Mudgal noted that the proxy system "is the bane of Delhi cricket and subject to other legal requirements deserves to be jettisoned". Mudgal said the list of these "few thousand" members, acting as proxies, needed to be properly scrutinised.

According to Mudgal the complimentary tickets and passes are a "bone of contention" between various office bearers, executive committee members and other authorities at the DDCA. And it was here Khanna used his influence to get as many complimentary passes as he could. "He excels in at evading responsibility and claiming credit for an achievement by someone else," Mudgal noted. "His paramount interests are peddling of complimentaries to gain favours and satisfy his proxy interests, and mounting the dais repeatedly for presentations. He craves for every photo opportunity.

"Mr Khanna has not the slightest interest in promotion of cricket in Delhi and his sole occupation is the traction obtained by complimentaries to his proxies and various authorities. He specialises in using his proxy power from behind the scenes and always avoids putting his signature on any document to avoid any responsibility. He is very efficient at securing complimentaries for the avowed purpose of giving to various licensing/sanctioning authorities and diverting some of them for his own benefit."

According to the report, a clear case of conflict of interest could be established against Khanna, who had three relatives serving at DDCA. "He has planted his relatives in various positions in DDCA, for example a) Mr Anil Khanna, General Secretary (first cousin) b) Ravi Khanna, Patron (brother) c) Vivek Gupta, Joint Secretary (wife's first cousin). This is clear case of conflict of interest."

The report highlighted the downward course taken by Delhi cricket in the Ranji Trophy. It argued that if Delhi is to regain its pre-eminence in domestic cricket, Khanna has to leave the DDCA. "Mr CK Khanna is present throughout working hours in DDCA. His supporters who keep him in power are only interested in complimentaries and free food and liquor during matches. Mr CK Khanna is one person whose latent actions along with his proxy-controlled acolytes have brought down the reputation of DDCA. Delhi, which has given several great cricketers to the Indian team, including the present Test captain, now languishes in the second tier of Ranji Trophy. All those who want to work only in the interests of betterment of cricket are hampered and prevented at every stage by the influence of CK Khanna. A restoration of Delhi cricket to its erstwhile glory may not be possible with Mr CK Khanna controlling the affairs of DDCA."