The Central Beaureu Of Investigation is conducting a preliminary probe against the office bearers of the Badminton Association Of India (BAI) who allegedly sent their children and kin as players to Japan for the Youth Sports exchange programme in 2014. Japan government had sponsored the junket that aims to promote Japanese culture in other Asean countries.
Reports said that seven of the 23 players sent for the tournament were wards and kins of the members of the BAI and its Delhi unit -- The Delhi Capital Badminton association. (DCBA). Most of the children didn't qualify to be sent as players as they didn't meet the selection criteria thatplayers should be between the age of 17 and 23 and must have played at the regional or state level in the country.
CBI sources said that neither was there a trial conducted nor any advertisement published to invite badminton players.
Akhilesh Das Gupta, President of the BAI is also under the CBI scanner for alleged nepotism and fraud. However, he has brushed off the claims, saying “It was a city exchange programme and BAI had nothing to do with it. DCBA had selected the youngsters as this programme was between Delhi and Tokyo. It was just not a sports programme but kids had to participate in quiz and cultural events....As far as my daughter is concerned, she went to Tokyo as she was selected by DCBA and I was not part of the selection. The criteria was that youngsters need to have knowledge of badminton. My daughter has won bronze medal in national school championship organised by CBSE. She has represented Delhi,"
The CBI had referred the matter to the sports ministry for further action a few months ago since it didn't have the mandate to initiate a criminal probe.
