Dalmiya, Bindra using BCCI to settle personal rivalry8217;

PARIS, MAY 24: Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI President, AC Muthiah, came down heavily on International Cricket Council Pres...

PARIS, MAY 24: Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI President, AC Muthiah, came down heavily on International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya and ex-BCCI chief Inderjit Singh Bindra on Wednesday, accusing them of using BCCI to settle personal scores.

8220;They are using the Board as a forum to settle their own problems. Bindra, Dalmiya8230; they have got a lot of inter-personal problems. That8217;s why I said it is affecting the Board and the image of the Board and we cannot be a mute spectator. We have to take action at some point of time,8221; he told PTI in an interview here. Asked to explain the motive behind Bindra going public with several allegations, Muthiah said it was due to personal rivalry between the former and Dalmiya and said that was why BCCI decided to serve a show cause notice on the former Board President.

8220;Bindra is a constituent of the Board and he cannot use the information, which he was privy to as president of the Board and then talk all kinds of nonsense. If he is going to do all kinds of things it affects the image of the Board. We have taken a decision to issue him a show cause notice and he has agreed. He has agreed for that,8221; he said.

Muthiah said former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar was avoiding going to the CBI, probing allegations of corruption in Indian cricket, with information he claims to possess as he wanted to settle scores with former India skipper Kapil Dev.

8220;I told Manoj to go to CBI and tell what you want to say. But he says no purpose is served by going to CBI but, I will not leave Kapil Dev8230; I will go to the bottom of it8217;8230; He says, I will go to the press, to the public and get justice,8217; 8221; the BCCI President revealed.

Asked whether the Board would study the Indian team8217;s performance in the last five years to find out whether anything was amiss, Muthiah replied 8220;no purpose will be served in doing this kind of research. Let us look prospective and let us look ahead and see that nobody is playing for losing a match. If somebody drops a catch do you think that fellow has taken money?8230;8221;.

Muthiah said despite the controversy, the morale of the Indian team preparing for the May 28 to June 7 Asia cup in Dhaka was high. 8220;I just got a report from one of the psychiatrists who is with the team in which he said they are in fine shape and confident,8221; he said.

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Asked whether he believed the allegations against Kapil were true as sacked South African skipper Hansie Cronje was also considered clean till he himself confessed to taking money from a bookie, Muthiah said, 8220;Nothing has come to light so how can I give a judgment. I cannot comment8221;.

On the Cronje affair, Muthiah said United Cricket Board Managing Director Ali Bacher spoke to him saying a judicial inquiry was being instituted in his country to go into the issue. 8220;I said fine you are welcome to do so but please remember the Delhi police have more information than you and I have. You should say you will cooperate with the Delhi police and your relationship with BCCI will still remain the same. He agreed. As far as Cronje is concerned I think the Delhi police have got very strong evidence,8221; he said.

Asked to comment on reports that a former Indian captain had declared Rs 16 crore to Income Tax officials under the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme, he said it was 8220;unethical8221; on IT department8217;s part to reveal such information.

8220;That8217;s where CBI investigation can work. The press cannot find out. CBI inquiry can go deep into the case and the department can disclose the name,8221; he added.