M A I N   N E W S

KKR, Gameplan get I-T notices
Tribune News Service & Agencies

Kolkata/Mumbai/Delhi, April 23
The Income Tax department has issued notices to Knight Riders Sports Private Limited and Gameplan Sports to appear before it in connection with the recent search operations at the offices of the two entities. Also, the BCCI submitted documents relating to the financial transactions pertaining to the Indian Premier League to the I-T department.

“We have issued notices to both Knight Rider Sports and Gameplan (once connected with Kolkata Knight Riders),” Director General of I-T investigation (East) Vinod Khurana said. Defending his team, Kolkata Knight Riders' co-owner Jay Mehta said his franchise's accounts were “clean” and rejected accusations of match-fixing and betting. He also ridiculed reports that matches in the second edition of IPL in South Africa were fixed.

All in a Day n BCCI officials submit details of the IPL transactions to I-T dept n Raj Thackeray blames Sharad Pawar for the current mess n Maharashtra lost Rs 4.99 cr due to no tax on IPL matches in 2008 n Sunanda Pushkar says media just turned her into a ‘slut’ in IPL row n BCCI ex-president moves SC against association of board members with IPL

In Mumbai, the Board of Control for Cricket in India formally submitted documents relating to the IPL financial transactions and share-holding in various franchisees. A team of senior BCCI officials, led by IPL CEO Sunder Raman, arrived at the I-T department office in response to summons issued to the cricket body earlier.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray today blamed Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for the current mess involving the Indian Premier League.

“Sharad Pawar was the head of the BCCI for so many years. And BCCI is the parent of IPL. So how can Pawar say he is not connected to the IPL,” Thackeray asked. The MNS chief noted that Maharashtra had waived off the entertainment taxes on the IPL matches at the behest of Pawar. He, however, said the government should reject calls to ban the IPL.

Meanwhile, after the Bombay High Court, it was the turn of the Comptroller and Auditor General to slam the Maharashtra government over non-levy of entertainment tax on IPL matches saying the state lost nearly five crore on this count in 2008.

According to a CAG report, on the basis of information in respect of seating capacity of the stadiums, collected independently by audit and considering the minimum rate of admission fee of Rs 500, amount of duty forgone is calculated at Rs 4.99 crore.

And today, another leader joined the league seeking a probe into the IPL scandal. Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, in a letter to the PM, said: “The sordid drama around IPL is causing concern among all sections of the country… I, therefore, request you to order an inquiry into the allegations….”

In another development, Sunanda Pushkar, who was at the centre of the IPL Kochi franchise controversy that led to Shashi Tharoor’s exit from government, says the media just turned her into a “slut”, some kind of “brainless eye candy”.

Dubbing as a “medieval witch hunt” the media scrutiny on her after the controversy raged, Sunanda said, “I have always been proud that I have made it alone—on my own terms—in a man’s world. And here, in one minute, without bothering to find out any facts the media just turned me into a slut, into some kind of brainless eye candy!”

Meanwhile, former BCCI president AC Muthiah has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the amendment made to the BCCI constitution under which its office-bearers and members were allowed to associate themselves with the IPL.

BCCI had earlier barred its members and officials from involving themselves in any activity, which was in conflict of interest with the Board. However, it subsequently relaxed the provisions and allowed them to pick up stakes in IPL teams. Muthiah has specifically named BCCI secretary whose India Cements company owns the Chennai Super Kings franchisee of the IPL.