Once again, huge case of criminal corruption and financial irregularities has come to the fore at the Gymkhana Club. It is alleged that liquor is being billed at the club using the cards of 31 dead members. Not only this, but Excise licence was also renewed by presenting fake documents and names. The serious thing is that it is not the club’s old tainted directors but government directors appointed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs who are in the circle of such allegations.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs is failing to crack down on corruption at Gymkhana Club. Shockingly the government directors appointed to act all corruption frauds are themselves found surrounded by allegations. In the latest case, liquor was billed using the cards of dead members of the club.
Not only this, but fake documents were used in the liquor licence applied on August 22, 2022, last year. But Excise Department is also sitting with closed eyes in this matter due to the influence of government directors. Liquor worth about 10–12 crores is sold every year in the Gymkhana Club.
This is the case
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta himself had to appear in the NCLT on April 1, 2022, in end of hearings since 2020 of the ongoing legal dispute between the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Gymkhana Club. Om Pathak, then administrator of Gymkhana, was surrounded by serious allegations of corruption and removed from the club. NCLT directed MCA to appoint 15 persons of Gymkhana Club to take corrective action in cases of corruption and frauds. But Ministry appointed only six people. One of these members soon resigned. But shockingly former bureaucrat Malay Sinha kept this hidden from Ministry of Corporate Affairs and NCLT until August 2022, quietly taking illegal decisions bypassing the articles and Companies Act.
What are the charges?
It is alleged that some directors appointed by Ministry of Corporate Affairs also removed CCTV cameras from cottages 10-12, and 28 for holding their parties and misusing the club cottages. Not only this, to benefit unknown people, by using cards of 31 dead members, liquor was also billed. After this was revealed in Forensic audit report, that part of the report was kept hidden not only from the members and the Govt but also from the NCLT.
Used fake documents, and names on Excise licence Application
For renewal of excise licence of Gymkhana Club, government directors applied with fake documents to Excise Commissioner in August 2022. Om Pathak, who was removed from Administrator post in April and HD Sasan, the ex club secretary, who resigned in 2018, are named as applicants for License. But despite all information, Excise Commissioner is doing nothing in this case. Malay Sinha, who is a member of club’s board of directors, has been a special director in the IB, two are members of ruling BJP. So Excise has ignored forgery when case should be filed against Gymkhana for it.
EOW and Excise Department in the dock
The EOW of Delhi Police, which registered two FIRs in the Excise case in 2021, is also under allegations of inaction. It is alleged that in this case, investigation is not being done only because accused have reached out to few Directors who are also working in posts in the BJP. So EOW and the Excise Commissioner is not able to muster courage to take action against accused and the club that has obtained excise licences with fake documents.
Tampering in Forensic audit
The forensic audit conducted to investigate the scams by spending lakhs of rupees has also been rigged. This report, which was submitted on 11 November 2022, was first hidden from the Govt and NCLT. Then the part of the sale of liquor in VIP security zone on names of dead members also disappeared.
Director Called the members demanding action on corruption fake.
570 club members had submitted a Requisition with signatures to call for EGM on six agendas. It is alleged that, lawyer and BJP leader Nalin Kohli, appeared in NCLT for first time to present the club’s side, as chairman of the Club legal committee. He termed the signatures of these members as suspicious and took consent from NCLT for not holding the EGM. Due to which there is anger among the club members demanding action against corruption and frauds. Club President Malay Sinha did not give any answer regarding any of the allegations on these alarming matters.
