Sandeep Sarkar, Kolkata: He is known to be close to Sourav Ganguly on the field. Karta Town Club, also Apex Council Member of CAB. Is he not associated with the Novas Purulia Royals team in Bengal T20 League, a franchise-based tournament organized by CAB! Lawyer Pranjal Pal sent a letter to CAB’s Ethics Officer, former Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya, alleging conflict of interest against Surjit Lahiri (a copy of which is in the possession of ABP Live Bangla). Demanded that Surjeet be immediately dismissed from the Apex Council, fined and banned from cricket activities.

On May 10, CAB organized the Cricketer Auction in the men’s category of the Bengal T20 League. That day, Surjeet was sitting at the auction table of Novas Purulia Royals team. The news was written by ABP Live Bangla. During the tournament, Novas Purulia Royals team is regularly present in the dug out.

In the complaint sent to the Ethics Officer on Monday, Pranjal wrote, ‘CAB Constitution Rule No. 67 states that no administrator can be directly or indirectly involved in any commercial tournament organized by CAB, in franchise selection and cannot be interested in getting vendors or contracts. However, the accused has seriously violated that rule. He was also instrumental in acquiring franchise assets to Novus Global Horizon Pvt. Because, who will get the franchise, the Apex Council approves the committee of which the accused himself is a member.

Lawyer Pranjal complained in the letter that Surjit is involved in conflict of interest by being a member of the Apex Council of CAB and being associated with the Novas Purulia Royals team in the Bengal T20 League. Supreme CourtAs per the revised constitution of CAB on the recommendation of the Lodha Committee under the supervision of Mr. Allegedly, Surjit did not obey that rule. Along with the charge sheet, Pranjal also submitted photographs of Surjit sitting at the auction table and dug out of Novas Purulia Royals team to the ethics officer.

Surjeet was contacted by ABP Live about the complaint submitted to the Ethics Officer. Who is better known as ‘Jack’ in Maidan. Surjit said, ‘If the ethics officer calls me, I will listen to what he says. I will accept what he decides. I am also associated with the cricket club. I don’t know how much conflict of interest there is. What is right will be done. I think everything should be viewed with a playful mindset. If I join a cricket team, it is for the sake of cricket. Not for any other reason. If I am in any committee of CAB, that too is in the interest of cricket. I don’t know anything yet. If the ethics officer says something, I will go the day he calls. I will keep my opinion. I will accept what he says. None of us are above the law. But I have no financial agreement with Purulia team. I am involved only as an advisor because they requested.’

Surjeet also brought up the topic of Sourav and Rahul Dravid. Said, ‘Maharajda was also accused of conflict of interest while at Pretoria Capitals. It was later dismissed. Similar allegations were made against Rahul Dravid. Hope I get justice. Whoever complains, I do what I do for the love of cricket. In 142 years, the Town club have won a pair of trophies. Without worrying about these things, we should think about how Bengal cricket can improve and more cricketers will emerge. I am associated with a group, if it is wrong, I will leave if the ethics officer says.’