Ness-SSP spat no "violation of law": Bindra
Punjab Cricket Association president IS Bindra downplayed the controversy generated by a spat between Kings XI Punjab team co-owner Ness Wadia and a senior police officer, saying it was a minor issue and did not "constitute violation of law".
"It did not constitute violation of law," Bindra said when faced a volley of questions from mediapersons on Wadia allegedly accusing Mohali`s senior superintendent of police, Ranbir Singh Khatra and his cops of stealing liquor and T-shirts and calling him a "mean and lowly person".
On the issue of a DDR having been lodged by the Mohali SSP against a smoking incident involving IPL commissioner Lalit Modi in the PCA`s long room in an earlier match, Bindra said, "Mr Modi had felt sorry and he told us that he was under the impression that the long room area was a private area and one could smoke there."
Asked to comment on what had led to the incident between Wadia and Khatra on Friday during the IPL match between Kings XI and Deccan Chargers, Bindra said he was in his office on the upper floor of the stadium when he was told that some "unpleasant dialogue" was taking place between the two. "I rushed down and took them inside a room and I thought the matter was sorted," Bindra said.
He, however, refused to divulge what had led to Wadia venting his ire on the police officer, who has already lodged a complaint with Mohali`s deputy commissioner Rahul Bhandari about the incident.
"What happened between three of us is confidential and I cannot divulge its details," said the former IAS officer.
Asked if the issue had been sorted out, why then Khatra lodged a complaint accusing Wadia of having publicly insulting him, Bindra said the two were adults and could sort out the issue if they felt anything needed to be sorted out.
Kings XI CEO Neil Maxwell also issued a statement today, saying that the Punjab team management has presented its side of the story to the concerned authorities and it will not make any further comments on the issue.
"With regard to certain statements that have appeared on the television and media, we would like to state that we have placed all the facts and our submissions before the appropriate authorities and leave it to their good judgment to determine what is in the best interest of the sport and law and order," the statement said.
Bindra said the Mohali SSP has done an "excellent job" as far as security arrangements are concerned and hoped he would continue doing so in future.
On the issue of Mohali Police slapping a bill of Rs 1.88 crore on the PCA for providing security for IPL matches in the aftermath of the Wadia-SSP spat, Bindra made it clear that both PCA and BCCI are "non-profit making bodies discharging public functions".
"Let me make it abundantly clear to everyone that we are a non-profit making public body and that is why we get income tax and entertainment duty exemption," he said, adding PCA always settles the amount to be paid to police or others before the event is held
He questioned how the Mohali police could demand money after the event is held.
"We always pay for certain items and pay for the police welfare fund and provide free meals to cops on duty," he said, adding PCA functions with "total support and coordination" from the government.