Vinod Rai asks BCCI ACU chief to probe corruption allegations against Shami

New Delhi: COA chairman Vinod Rai has instructed BCCI’s ACU chief Neeraj Kumar to probe the corruption allegations laid against cricketer Mohammad Shami by his wife Hasin Jahan. Jahan has also filed a police complaint against the pacer alleging infidelity and domestic violence.

Rai wrote to Kumar today over the corruption allegations against Shami, whose central contract has been withheld by the BCCI in the wake of multiple accusations. The COA chief asked Kumar to submit a report within a week. It is to be noted that the letter nowhere mentions the word “match-fixing”.

“This has reference to the various media reports pertaining to allegations against Md. Shami. The Committee of Administrators has listened to the audio recording of a telephonic conversation which it is claimed is between Md. Shami and his wife. The said audio recording is available in public domain,” Rai wrote in the letter, which is in possession of PTI.

Jahan has alleged that Shami “took money from a Pakistani woman named Alishba at the insistence of an England-based businessman Mohammad Bhai”. “The Committee of Administrators is concerned only with such portion of the said audio recording in which the person who it is claimed is Md Shami is heard saying another person by the name of Mohammad Bhai had sent money to Md. Shami through a Pakistani lady by the name of ‘Alisba’.”

“Please investigate the above assertions/ allegations under the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code and submit a report to the Committee of Administrators with your findings as to whether there is any basis to proceed further in terms thereof.”

Rai wrote that the terms of investigation should cover (i) “the identity and antecedents of Mohammad Bhai and Alisba; (ii) whether any money was in fact sent by the said Mohammad Bhai through the said Alisba to Md. Shami; and (iii) if yes, the purpose for which the said money was received by Md. Shami.”

The investigation will be only about the corruption allegations, Rai asserted. “The Committee of Administrators wishes to emphasize that the investigation be limited to the above issues only and not deal with any of the other allegations against Md. Shami unless you find that the same fall within the purview of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code,” he added.