Farooq whistle blower: Chairman JKCA

Criticizes Mehbooba for bid to take ‘political mileage’

Srinagar: Expressing ‘shock’ over the embezzlements in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, Mohammad Aslam Goni, Chairman of the state cricket governing body criticized opposition PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti for her remarks against association president, Farooq Abdullah, saying that the probe was done on his instructions.
“I am shocked over the embezzlements. It is betrayal of trust of the president,” Goni told . 
While reacting to statement by Mehbooba Mufti regarding financial irregularities in the JKCA, Goni said that the leader of the opposition was “unnecessarily trying to get political mileage out of the issue.” “The fact is that the top brass of the JKCA are infact the whistle blowers in the case and they have infact ordered an enquiry into the alleged financial short fall of the Association by the then treasurer of the Association Ahsan Ahmed Mirza in connivance with the then General Secretary of the Association Salim Khan,” he said.
Goni said that he on the instructions of Farooq Abdullah immediately reached Srinagar after the President was communicated financial irregularities by the Treasurer of the Association.
He said that he called a meeting of office bearers at Srinagar which was also attended by Ahsan Ahmad Mirza.
Ahsan Mirza, he said, owned the responsibility of short fall of funds incurred by opening bogus bank accounts in Khyanar branch of J&K Bank and Air Cargo branch of J&K Bank and offered to deposit the shortfall amount with the JKCA.
“According to the information provided to me by the treasurer, withdrawals from Khaniyar branch are in the tune of Rs 6 crore 8 lakhs and withdrawals from Air Cargo branch are in the tune of 18 and half crore which comes to 24.64 crores,” he said.
Goni said that several liability of two individuals namely the then General Secretary and the then Treasurer, who under their signatures have opened these bogus accounts and there after illegally operated them without reflecting these bank accounts in the Balance sheet of JKCA.
He said that all the members present in the meeting yesterday were unanimous to effect recovery of the shortfall amount against the two individuals. “The silver lining with this whole unfortunate episode remains that Mr. Mirza has offered to reimburse the whole shortage to JKCA.”
However, it has been decided to call a meeting of Finance Committee on 19th of March to assess and find the actual shortfall in the JKCA accounts with the help of an independent auditor. “Immediately after that 20th of March 2012, a meeting of Disciplinary Committee shall be convened for proposing further legal course of action in the matter”.
Goni said that Association has written a letter to BCCI requesting for providing complete information regarding the subsidies sent by BCCI to JKCA from year 1996.
The General Secretary has submitted resignation from the post and the present CAO, the then General Secretary has also been stopped from working as CAO and submit his resignation.
He said that the guilty individuals shall be brought to the book and legal course of action shall be initiated immediately after assessing the exact shortfall amount.
Goni said that there was nothing to politicize the issue and indulge in mudslinging as the JKCA especially the President Dr. Farooq Abdullah has issued strict instructions that nobody who is found responsible should be spared after the determination of the exact shortfall in the account of JKCA.
He clarified that according to the rules of the JKCA President has absolutely no role in handling or operation the accounts. (KMW NEWS)