BCCI Suspends Top Goa Cricket Officials for Financial Bungling

Two senior Goa Cricket Association officials - Chetan Desai and Vinod Phadke - have been suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for allegations of financial bungling.

Desai (president of GCA) and Phadke (secretary) have also been slapped with showcause notices by the BCCI. They have been given 15 days to reply.

On Wednesday, Desai, Phadke and treasurer Akbar Mulla were arrested by Goa police for alleged misappropriation of over Rs 3 crore belonging to the organisation.

"Given the serious nature of the allegations, the BCCI has decided to investigate the said allegations as well," a Board statement said.

Interestingly, both Desai and Phadke are holding important positions in the BCCI.

While Desai is the chairman of the Board's Marketing Committee, Phadke is a member of the Information and Technology Committee of the BCCI.

The Economic Offences Wing of Goa has filed an FIR against the Goa officials in connection with the alleged fraud of Rs 3.13 crore on June 3.

GCA's life member Vilas Desai had filed a complaint accusing Desai and the other two of forging signatures and opening bank accounts to siphon off the association's money.

They opened accounts between October 23, 2006, and May 23, 2008, when GCA was headed by Dayanand Narvekar while Desai was its secretary and Phadke its treasurer.

"They prepared forged documents as well as a resolution of GCA and submitted it to the Development Credit Bank to open an account. They then encashed a cheque for Rs 2.87 crore given by BCCI to the GCA," the complaint says.

(With inputs from PTI)