Dalmiya piqued by CBI 'harassment'

The former President of the International Cricket Council, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters in Calcutta on Wednesday that he had applied to the Income Tax Department to obtain xerox copies of the various papers that have been seized by them. Addressing a media conference at the Cricket Association of Bengal office, Mr. Dalmiya said, "On Monday when the CBI raided my house and office they had wanted a number of documents. Some of them are with the Income Tax Department. I have applied to them to obtain xerox copies so that I can give it to the CBI."

However, he also made it clear that he failed to understand why the CBI officials did not get in touch with their counterparts in the Income Tax department before conducting the raid. "Some documents on the ICC Knockout Tournament had been taken away by the IT officials on July 20. They are still lying with them. I do not know why the CBI came to ask me for the papers which are lying with the Income Tax for the last four months. It shows a distinct lack of coordination between the two Government agencies. If there had been coordination at least my family members would have been spared of the unnecessary harassment that they had to face on Monday. I am really surprised that they came for documents which are not with me."

The former ICC President also emphasized that there was no financial irregularity on the part of the ICC or the IDI (ICC Development International Limited) regarding the 1998 Wills Cup that had been played at Dhaka. "Once the documents are obtained from the Income Tax Department, I will make it available for the CBI." He also stated that if necessary, he would also release it to the public through the media.

During the entire press conference, he made it very clear that he had not liked the way the CBI had harassed his family members. "They could have easily phoned me for the documents. I am always ready to show whatever documents that I have with me," he said. When asked whether such harassment would prevent good cricket administrators from coming into the game in the future, Mr. Dalmiya said, "At least, I will not allow my son to get involved with this game."