Jaywant Lele expelled from Baroda Cricket Association

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jaywant Lele, along with two other office-bearers, was expelled from the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) for alleged financial irregularities and administrative lapses.

BCA secretaries Kiran More and M Samarjeet Gaekwad told reporters on Saturday that former joint secretary Pradeep Desai and former treasurer Ramesh Dalvi were the other expelled officials.

The trio is alleged to have signed long-term agreements worth Rs 1.20 crore for three one-day internationals without the BCA's approval, leading the BCA to illegally purchase a parking lot, and misuse 800 complimentary passes for the India-South Africa ODI in Baroda in early 2000.

More and Gaekwad pointed out that despite being asked to appear in front of an inquiry panel, the three had failed to do so. The panel then recommended expulsion, and a resolution fulfilling that was passed by the BCA managing committee. The BCA may yet file criminal and civil complaints to recover almost Rs 15 lakhs.

The financial irregularities also brought the Income Tax department breathing down the BCA's neck, said BCA managing committee member Sanjay Patel. Lele and the other two officials did not respond to the IT queries either.

Lele, for his part, points out that the inquiry panel was made up of two members and not four and that it was therefore unconstitutional. Speaking to Rediff.com Lele said: "Kiran More and Chirayu Amin have concocted the financial details to oust me. Why else would they hold a press conference today when the case is up for hearing in the Baroda high court on Monday?"

Arguing that he had done much for both the BCA and the BCCI, Lele said: "What money have I made? I still am a scooter man. I ride my Kinetic scooter around Baroda. I am not a greedy man."