'Stifled' DTTA official resigns

Sat, Jul 19 01:20 AM

AFTER NUMEROUS cases of age fraud and allegations of misappropriation of government money by the Delhi Table Tennis Association (DTTA), its vice-president, Uday Shankar, has resigned. It is learnt that some more senior functionaries are all set to quit.

In his resignation letter sent to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Lt Governor, Chief Minister and Deputy Commissioner, Anti-Corruption (Delhi Government), among others, Shankar has pointed to the mismanagement of funds given by the state government for organising tournaments. "This gross mismanagement of funds is a criminal offence.

I felt very disturbed that I am part of such an association which misuses funds in the name of providing refreshments to children." On rampant age fudging, Shankar said he didn't get the cooperation of DTTA officials for verification of age proofs of players.

Speaking to HT, he said the Delhi Government's anti-corruption cell should immediately institute an inquiry into the affairs of the association and file criminal charges against the members. "Let everything come out in the open.

" HT had recently highlighted two age fudging cases and one of them involved the son of a DTTA patron. Shankar said the DTTA had become a one-man show and it was becoming very difficult to work in such "stifling conditions".

Asked to comment, DTTA president, N.S. Gujral, said he could not discuss the issue on phone, while organising secretary, Hukam Singh, who has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, said, "Who am I to stop him from resigning and #8230;we are not bothered." In another letter written to the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) secretary-general, M.C. Chowhan, Shankar has questioned the organisation of an all-India tournament by DTTA. He asked how a state association was organising the event without the knowledge of the parent body.

Chowhan confirmed no prior permission had been taken to organise the GKI all-India tournament. "The issue has come to my notice and I will seek an explanation from the DTTA. This is wrong.

Being the parent body, they should have notified us." On whether the tournament's results would be annulled and the players' entry fees refunded, Chowhan said, "Let me reach Delhi, I will discuss the issue.

" It is learnt that the DTTA has convened an executive committee meeting on July 21 and Shankar's resignation will figure prominently on the agenda.

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