IHF forms panel to probe into bribery mess

Rattled by the bribe scandal involving its secretary K Jothikumaran, the IHF sets up a body to probe into the sting operation by a TV channel.

Rattled by the bribe scandal involving its secretary K Jothikumaran, the Indian Hockey Federation on Wednesday sets up a three-member committee to inquire into the sting operation by a television news channel.

HT Image

The Committee, formed two days after the expose, will be headed by retired Judge of Madras High court Justice KMN Natarajan and will also include former Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, WI Davaram IPS (retd), and IHF Joint Secretary Rajeev Mehta.

IHF President KPS Gill told PTI that the committee would look into every aspect of the allegations made in the telecast.
"The Committee will meet at the earliest to inquire into every aspect shown in the telecast before submitting its findings to the Federation," Gill said.

Jothikumaran, who has stepped down as the Secretary General of IHF, was purportedly shown accepting bribe in a sting operation by 'Aaj Tak' channel.

The channel claimed that Jothikumaran had assured its reporters of getting a player selected in the senior hockey team after receiving a cash payment of Rs two lakhs and taking a promise of another Rs three lakhs to be given to his man in Delhi.