CBI registers misappropriation case against Narinder Batra, veteran sports administrator resigns from all posts

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 18

In a big loss of face for Narinder Batra, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case of misappropriation of funds against him. The CBI had in April registered a preliminary enquiry after receiving a complaint from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Simultaneously, the CBI conducted raids in five places including Delhi, Jammu and at the IOA headquarters regarding the same case.

It is understood that the matter is related to the renovation of Batra’s office situated at the second floor of the IOA Bhawan in Qutab Educational Area. As per IOA treasurer Anandeshwar Panday, who raised the issue last year, a sum of Rs 36.19 lakh was spent to redo the office. Panday alleged that a few invoices indicated that the money may have come from HI, although the federation’s book had no entry of this transaction.

In another development, Batra has officially resigned from his post of IOA president, as IOC member and as chief of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) on Monday.

However, IOA insiders say that this was only an exercise in saving grace as he had already been removed as IOA president by the Delhi High Court in June. “He should have resigned in May itself when the first court order came,” said an IOA source.

“My thinking is that he had no option but to resign with the CBI registering a case against him,” he added.

The court’s vacation bench gave this order while hearing a contempt proceeding filed on behalf of former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan against Batra.

The petition was filed as Batra was still attending meetings, including those with the Sports Ministry, as the IOA president. It was deemed in contempt of a May 25 order of the Delhi High Court, which had set aside the life membership of Batra.  The previous order – in May—had appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to run Hockey India. It had also sought a probe by the COA to see whether Batra used his life member as a stepping stone to get benefits nationally or internationally.