Team Herald
MARGAO: The Bombay High Court at Goa has taken up a writ petition addressing allegations of severe mismanagement within the Cycling Association of Goa (CAG). The court has issued notices to all respondents, including the Government of Goa, the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), and the Goa Olympic Association, with the next hearing scheduled for October 15.
The petitioners, comprising prominent Goan citizens and cycling organisations, argue that the association’s administrative failures, financial misconduct, and manipulations in membership and election processes have severely harmed the sport, violating their legal and fundamental rights as athletes and stakeholders.
Petitioners argue that the association’s leaders have systematically restricted membership to a select few, maintaining their grip on power. They allege that genuine applicants, including cyclists and clubs, have been denied membership, effectively running the association as a personal fiefdom.
Furthermore, the petition highlights irregularities in the election process, claiming the current management tampered with membership records to favour those aligned with the leadership. While CAG’s original membership in 2008 included 15 members, the petitioners assert that many long-standing members were arbitrarily removed without notice, while new members, including employees of the association’s treasurer, were added.
In June 2024, following the emergence of financial fraud allegations, the petitioners succeeded in pressuring the association to admit 65 new members. However, they now claim these new members, despite having paid membership fees, are being barred from participating in upcoming elections, with the association planning to use an outdated membership list from 2022.
Pedalling scandal:
Public funds embezzled during
dodgy training camp, cyclists claim
The petition outlines serious allegations of corruption related to a residential training camp organised by CAG in preparation for the 38th National Games held in Goa in 2023. The petitioners contend that while the camp was intended to be residential, it was reduced to a 49-day day camp, with cyclists participating in only one training session per day and lacking provisions for food, accommodation, or transportation.
Despite this, the association allegedly issued fraudulent invoices totalling over Rs14 lakh for a residential camp that did not occur.
Inflated bills were reportedly issued by multiple agencies, including a real estate company, a catering service, and an event management firm. The petitioners allege these invoices were fabricated in collusion with key office bearers of the association, including President Nitish Kerkar, and falsely included costs such as Rs 4.8 lakh for accommodation and Rs 7.65 lakh for catering, when the camp did not offer food or accommodation.
The petition asserts that these funds were public money granted by the SAG through the Indian Olympic Association to support athlete training for the National Games but were misused by the association’s leaders for personal gain.