RCA loses ground to Raj Sports Council

Jaipur: Rajasthan sports council on Friday put locks on the office of Rajasthan Cricket Association and wrote to the bank management to freeze accounts of the association over non-payment of dues of over Rs 40 crore. The MoU regarding the SMS stadium between RCA and Sports Council had expired on Feb 22. After this, RCA had demanded from council to extend the time period of the MoU but the council denied and took possession of SMS Stadium and RCA Academy on Friday. RCA Prez Vaibhav Gehlot said they would approach the court.

The Sports Council has taken action ahead of the IPL in Jaipur. Due to nonpayment of dues of about Rs 40 crore, the offices of RCA and Rajasthan Cricket Academy, SMS Stadium, hotel have been taken into possession

Sports Council Secretary Sohanlal said, “RCA’s MoU regarding SMS Stadium has expired. Action was taken on Friday after instructions from the Sports Department. RCA has not paid the outstanding amount of Rs 40 crore. This also includes Rs 3 crore 50 lakh electricity bill and Rs 5 crore for the maintenance of the stadium. I have discussed this issue with the officials of RCA but the association was lax. The MoU has also ended.”

RCA President Vaibhav Gehlot was also present in the RCA office. Meanwhile, during the action of the Sports Council, apart from cricket, other sports persons also reached the SMS Stadium.