Retired HC Chief Justice to Look Into Bengal Chess Controversy

AICF appointed former Kolkata High Court Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya to probe the corruption allegations.

Dibyendu Barua had accused BCA Secretary Atanu Lahiri of engaging in corruption.

(Photo: Twitter/@SportInGenes)

The All India Chess Federation on Wednesday appointed former Kolkata High Court Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya to probe the corruption allegations against Bengal Chess Association (BCA) officials.

Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua had accused BCA Secretary Atanu Lahiri of engaging in corruption and diverting funds meant for chess promotion to his company Global Chess.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) had also found that the fund utilisation certificate furnished by Bengal Chess for the national sub-junior chess championship 2018 was forged.

The AICF has also filed an FIR in the case as per the decision taken in GB meeting and has also requested SAI to do a forensic check by a government agency on the alleged fund utilisation certificate.

Barua had also accused Lahiri of banning several top players for criticising his handling of the chess affairs.

"AICF's move came following its General Body meeting (GBM) held in Bhopal on December 28," a release said. "The AICF general body had taken a strong note of especially the second finding and a motion for a thorough probe in the matter was passed.”