Bowring management mulling to expel Avinash Kukreja

The administrators of the Bowring Institute are mulling to expel Avinash Amarlal Kukreja (46) from the club for using the lockers at the badminton court without authorisation.

Kukreja stashed cash, gold, valuables and realty documents in the lockers, an action that has brought serious disrepute to the 150-year-old elite club. “We’ll take disciplinary action by issuing a show-cause notice to the member (Kukreja),” said secretary of Bowring Institute, H S Srikanth, who is also the secretary for the Federation of Clubs of Karnataka.

“When he replies, he has to face an inquiry before the disciplinary committee, and will be recommended for expulsion if found guilty,” Srikanth added. The secretary also said Kukreja used the three court lockers without subscribing to sports (badminton and squash), and acted in violation of the club ethics. He misused his privileges as a member by getting the lockers and stashing gold and cash, embarrassing the club in the process, Srikanth said.

'Bags did not come in at one go'

Badminton court in-charge Sandeep said he used to see Kukreja walking into the court on many occasions, but he assumed he was using the restroom, which is a part of the locker rooms.

“He didn’t bring those six bags at one go, but in smaller quantities over time,” Sandeep said, admitting that he had seen Kukreja enter the club’s locker room during non-peak hours between 4 pm and 5 pm. Sandeep is present at the court between 4 pm and 7 pm.

The Bowring Institute has 242 subscribed sports members and Kukreja was not one of them. Around 90 to 100 regulars visit the courts in three batches during the mornings, afternoons and evenings.