Government Director of Gymkhana taint the the government’s image

(Subodh Jain)

Last year, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, which appointed an administrator in the Gymkhana Club, alleging financial irregularities and corruption, has not been able to investigate a single case in twenty months. It is surprising that many former bureaucrats who have been appointed here after retirement are themselves getting caught in the allegations of corruption. Club members have now started uniting against them. If experts are to be believed, these practices have to be curbed, otherwise the government directors themselves may bring trouble to the government.

Questions are being raised about the working style of the government directors appointed to investigate the allegations of corruption against the Gymkhana management. Due to which the club members have demanded to call a meeting of the General Assembly on January 15, 2022 citing the rules. It is alleged that the government directors gave crores of rupees to their favorite lawyers as fees for the litigation between the Club and the government. Ignoring the mandatory rules, the General Body Meeting was not even called. Not only this, the exercise of awarding contracts to benefit a particular company is also going on.

This is the entire affair

In fact, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, had made allegations of violation of rules and corruption in the Gymkhana Club. Due to which the NCLAT appointed an administrator here in February 2021. But despite the passage of more than one and a half years, the Administrator and Director of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs could not investigate a single case related to irregularities and corruption against the Cub management. It is alleged that the favored ones, who were appointed in the Club after retirement, have made the club a resting place. This is the reason why many of them are also being accused of corruption.

General Body Meeting avoided

Last year, the then administrator Om Pathak had called a General Body Meeting. The report presented by Pathak in the meeting on 23 December 2021 was rejected by the members with nearly 95 per cent votes. After which the government managers of the club did not call the General Body Meeting again. It is alleged that the government directors are misappropriating the Club’s money. Within the last year and a half, the government directors spent more than Rs 50 crore on the Club. This is the reason why thirty members of the Club, using their rights through Article 32, have written a letter to the General Committee to call a General Body Meeting on January 15, 2022.

What is the agenda?

According to the agenda given in the letter, the first point is to re-call the dismissed general body in December 2022, to present the accounts of the financial year 2020-21, to present the account of the Club’s money spent from April 2021 till now and on the legal battle also. The issue of making public the amount spent has to be discussed. The general body will also discuss what investigations and actions have been taken by the government directors to investigate the allegations leveled against the Club management. Not only this, a detailed report has also been asked in the matter of Davis Cup.

Why is the government director worried?

According to club sources, some of the directors appointed in the Club in April this year, are evading accountability due to their questionable activities. One of these directors removed the old lawyer who represented the Club in some cases and gave the contract to his favorite law firm. It is surprising that the old lawyer who used to charge only two and a half thousand rupees, is now being paid for the same work at the rate of 25 thousand per appearance.

Allegation of illegal appointment

The club directors are accused of illegally appointing a secretary in the club on 26 August 2022. According to the Club constitution, any decision can be taken only after the mandatory presence of at least six directors in the meeting. But one of the six directors appointed in the Club resigned in July 2022. In such a situation, the remaining five members of the Club could not take any decision. But in the general committee meeting of the Club, neither the rules were followed nor the ministry was informed about it on time.

Malay Sinha also accused

Former IPS Malay Sinha, who became the president of the Club soon after his appointment, has also been embroiled in the allegations. It is alleged that based on the noting of the club’s IT manager and the approval of illegally appointed club secretary Rajeev Hora and assistant secretary, Malay Sinha approved the purchase of computers and hardware worth about 85 lakhs. While for this the financial rules should have been followed by taking permission from the general body. It is also alleged that despite the old software being correct, preparations are being made to buy new computers and software so that a particular company can be benefited from it.

Sinha does not give straight answer

Malay Sinha says that the General Committee is doing all the work under the rules and regulations. All the work is being done as per the orders of the court. This involves the cooperation and consent of all the GC members. Not only this, general financial rules are also being followed in every case. But they don’t give any answer regarding the allegations related to the illegal appointment of Rajeev Hora to the post of secretary, including the exercise of buying computers and hardware worth about 85 lakhs and the email written by the club members for the general meeting.