Within hours of setting up a three-member committee to probe sexual harassment complaints against BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, another woman has come up with similar charges in her written complaint to Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) member Diana Edulji on Friday.
DNA has reliably learnt that the woman, who is apparently a senior media personality, has accused Johri of "asking for sexual favours earlier this year".
The woman, in this case, has chosen to address her complaint specifically to Edulji after coming to know about her bold stand in demanding Johri's removal.
COA chief Vinod Rai had asked Johri to proceed on leave and submit his reply to #MeToo charges by an unnamed woman in social media.
The former Indian women team skipper obviously was annoyed by BCCI's attempt to hush up a case of such serious nature as she had also received a similar complaint against Johri by a serving board employee on March 2, 2018.
This was obviously Edulji's pressure that for the first time BCCI admitted to have received complaints against Johri while he has been serving in the board.
"The independent committee could take into account and/or probe all allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Johri while he was employed with the BCCI," the press release on Thursday put stamp on DNA's September 15 story of a complaint by the internal female employee.
Meanwhile, Karina Kriplani (legal advisor on retainer with the BCCI and the chairperson of the internal complaints committee of the Board) resigned late on Friday. Though the reasons for her resignations are unknown as she didn't reply to DNA's phone call, but it is believed that she was not happy with the ongoing developments in the BCCI headquarters.
Another lady legal advisor Prabhjyot Chhabra had also resigned recently.
BCCI's office-bearers and majority of state cricket associations have now questioned the move by COA chief Rai to form a three-member panel — Justice Rakesh Sharma (former judge, Allahabad high court), Barkha Singh (former chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women) and PC Sharma (former director CBI) — without adhering to the BCCI's new constitution, approved by the Apex court.
BCCI has now admitted that Edulji even threatened to approach SC-appointed Amicus Curiae (Gopal Subramanium) for further guidance, if no action is taken and the CEO is allowed to continue. The state associations, meanwhile, are preparing to take the Johri issue before the Apex court soon.
Meanwhile, former Mumbai captain Shishir Hattangadi has said he will testify against Johri if asked to board.
"If the @BCCI want information about Rahul Johri on #metoo I am happy to assist them. I am putting my hand up as a former Captain," Hattangdi tweeted.
A news website reported quoted Hattangadi as saying, "This is to do with Rahul Johri's current job. I don't want to reveal identity but the lady asked me for advice and I have asked her to document it and give it to BCCI. I have met a COA member and followed the due process."
"I don't know the CEO but I was approached by the person concerned and I have played the facilitator and I am happy to meet the BCCI probe committee if they wish to invite me," the report quotes Hattangadi as saying.