Gymkhana officials had alleged that Ivan Rodrigues used club hall for religious conversion.
Jemimah Rodrigues, India women’s cricketer, found herself in hot soup after her membership of one of the oldest clubs in India, Khar Gymkhana was canceled. The office holders of the Gymkhana reportedly cited Jemimah’s father using the premises for religious activities, violating rules.
As per Indian Express report, Jemimah’s father Ivan was accused of booking the Khar Gymkhana banquet hall for religious conversion.
Khar Gymkhana managing committee member Shiv Malhotra added that the club did not permit members to use its premises to conduct religious activity, and that Ivan was also accused of “converting the “vulnerable”.
However, the President of Khar Gymkhana, Vivek Devnani, has refuted such rumors citing Jemimah’s father using the club hall for religious conversions. Instead, he is accusing rivals of indulging in communal politics ahead of the club’s elections.
Devnani acknowledged to The Times of India that, while Jemimah's membership was terminated, "no evidence" had been produced to back up charges of religious activities in the club.
“Khar Gymkhana is scheduled to have its managing committee and trustee elections later this month. These allegations are being made with political motives. No evidence has been offered for any alleged wrongdoing. “I would request and trust our wider body of members and the media to be cautious in relying on misrepresentations and falsehoods,” Devnani told Times of India.
Jemimah, who lives in the Bandra area near the famed Khar Gymkhana, was granted club membership in 2023 by invitation.
The batter, who has represented India in three Tests, 30 ODIs, and 104 T20Is, has yet to reply to the charges, as has her father, Ivan.