CP Joshi faction files FIR against Dixit

JAIPUR: The fight between the two factions of Rajasthan Cricket Association — one led by Union minister C P Joshi and the other by IAS officer Sanjay Dixit — turned ugly on Monday with the association’s treasurer Mahendra Sharma, who belongs to the Joshi group, lodging an FIR against RCA secretary Dixit. Sharma has accused the bureaucrat of embezzling around Rs 10 lakh.
According to Sharma, Dixit withdrew the money from association’s account even though he was “suspended” from the secretary’s post unanimously at the RCA’s extraordinary general body meeting held in Udaipur on July 29. The meeting was called by Union minister Joshi, who is also the RCA president.
Reacting to the development, a member of the Dixit faction said that the money was withdrawn to meet RCA’s office expenditures. “As it was the end of the month, the RCA needed funds to keep the regular activities going,” he said.
He even questioned the validity of the FIR as the EGM and the suspension were already in dispute. SHO, Jyoti Nagar, Bhanwar Singh told TOI: “The complainant has alleged that the very next day of the EGM, Dixit wrote a cheque of Rs 10 lakh as RCA secretary and withdrew the amount.”
The RCA treasurer attached a copy of the RCA constitution, according to which signatures of at least two office-bearers were necessary to withdraw the money from association funds. “But Dixit ignored the association’s constitution. This amounts to embezzlement,” Sharma said in the FIR.
A copy of the EGM’s decision to remove Dixit was also attached with the criminal complaint. The police officer, however, said, “We will seek records from the bank. The authentic copy of RCA’s constitution, more records of the EGM meeting of Udaipur and other records will be sought from the association.”
When asked if Dixit will be quizzed, the SHO said that it would be part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, a division bench of the high court has asked one Anil Sharma to file an affidavit explaining the present position of alleged commercial use of the SMS stadium.
It has been alleged by petitioner Sharma through a contempt petition that the court's order was being violated. In 2006, on a petition filed by Sharma, the court ruled that only sports activities were permissible in the stadium but the RCA administration rented the premises for a hotel and marriage parties, among other commercial activities.