Angered and hurt by the charges levelled against him by president-aspirant Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar at a press conference on Monday, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary Brijesh Patel has slapped a lawyer’s notice on Wadiyar, demanding an apology from him ‘within 24 hours from the time of receipt of this Notice,’ adding that in the event of his failure to do so, Patel would proceed against him for defamation and slander, and seek for damages of Rs 10 crore for ‘the damage caused to his reputation.’

Talking to the media on Tuesday, Patel said, “I am deeply hurt by baseless accusations questioning my integrity.

Our books are open, he can have a look at them himself. God has not given me millions, but I have the virtues of integrity and honesty. Every transaction has been done with the best interests of the KSCA in mind. The KSCA has not lost anything, and all the transactions were approved by the finance committee and managing committee before payments were made.

“V Jagannath was in the press conference yesterday, he himself has chaired many of the meetings at which these transactions were approved, while many others who are in the other group now have also been party to these meetings and have full knowledge of the transactions.

“These developments are disturbing and sad. We wanted to keep it a family affair, but it is unfortunate that they are indulging in public mud-slinging. There is no dirty linen to be washed, and we have called this press conference only to clear the air because there is an attempt to say that all is not well in KSCA.”

Rebuttal

Like he had done on Monday evening, Patel again rebutted the allegations surrounding lack of transparency in certain dealings with regard to Sporting Frontiers, Stella Vista and Composite Travels, and signed off by saying, “How can Mr Wadiyar make statements about the misuse of KSCA funds? He has questioned my integrity, and in all these years as a player, captain, selector and secretary, no one has done that.

He has crossed all limits and alleged misappropriation of funds, which is demeaning. He will have to face the consequences. I challenge him to prove those allegations. I am filing a defamation suit to the tune of Rs 10 crore, we have already sent him notice.”

Lawyer’s notice

That notice is expected to reach Wadiyar sometime on Wednesday morning. Signed by advocate BK Sampath Kumar, it states, among other things, “Take Notice that within 24 hours from the time of receipt of this Notice, you should tender an apology both in the print media and also on the various channels that had exhibited your press conference, apologising for the wrong statements made by you and in the event of your failure to do so, our Client will be left with no alternative but to proceed against you for defamation and slander in a Civil Court and seek damages of Rs 10 crores for the damage caused to his reputation and further initiate criminal action against you...”

Former India captain Gundappa Viswanath, contesting the president’s post with Wadiyar, added, “These kind of allegations are untrue and not in good spirit. I have known Brijesh for a long time; we played together and are administrators now.

Today, one of the members said he had heard that Brijesh had paid me Rs 25 lakh to be with him. Such statements being made by erstwhile cricketers literally pains me. Brijesh was NCA director for three years with a monthly salary of Rs 75,000. He didn’t take a single pie. I can’t take these accusations anymore. If they want to win fair and square, fine. But not in this manner.”

Roger Binny added, “It is very sad for me to read such allegations. No one has worked harder than Brijesh to provide this world-class facility. Let us fight man to man, not indulge in mud-slinging.”

KSCA vice-president SK Ramadhyani said it had been decided to hand over the conduct of the elections to the Registrar of Societies.