Another #MeToo allegation set to be revisited against BCCI CEO Rahul Johri: Reports

An employee of the BCCI had complained to CoA chief Vinod Rai and his colleague Diana Edulji about Johri’s misconduct earlier this year.

BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has been accused of sexual harassment | Getty

The trouble for BCCI CEO Rahul Johri seems to be amplifying with each passing day. After being accused of sexual harassment by an anonymous person on Twitter, Johri was asked to come up with an explanation. Even as he prepares his clarification, a report in The Telegraph claims that voices within the cricket board are asking for a similar complaint against Johri to be revisited.

According to the report, an employee of the BCCI had complained to CoA chief Vinod Rai and his colleague Diana Edulji about Johri’s misconduct earlier this year.

Sources, quoted by the newspaper, say the lady had “resigned” from her role but had been “persuaded” by Rai to take it back. One meeting featured Rai, the lady and her husband (which suggests the harassment had been sexual); the other was between Johri, the lady and one of the most senior and well-connected men in the Board. It is said that Johri has given a “written apology” but that just couldn’t be confirmed till late on Monday.

Meanwhile, Johri has been forced to pull out of an upcoming ICC Meeting in Singapore after the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators declined his request for more time to explain the accusations.

On Sunday (October 14), Vinod Rai confirmed that BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary will represent the board at the meeting, slated to be held in Singapore from October 16 to 19.

"Rahul had sought 14 days for a detailed explanation as he said that he is working with his legal team and since he was to attend ICC Meeting from October 16-19 in Singapore," Rai told PTI.

"But I clearly told Rahul that I cannot let this issue simmer for 14 days as the BCCI office will be affected by it. Since he wants to sit with his lawyers now, I allowed him exemption from ICC Meeting," he added.

The allegations against Johri have been made by an anonymous person, who claimed to be his colleague during his stint at the Discovery Channel. Author Harnidh Kaur shared screenshots of a detailed report of the victim on her Twitter page, where she revealed that Johri had taken advantage of a woman, who doesn’t wish to reveal her identity.

Before taking up the role as the BCCI CEO in April 2016, Johri had worked as Executive Vice President and General Manager - South Asia for Discovery Networks Asia Pacific.

(With inputs from The Telegraph)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 16 Oct, 2018

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