BAI chief's 'mail' has officials in tizzy

Supporters of Badminton Association of India president VK Verma were caught on the wrong foot on Friday when secretary-general, Vijai Sinha, circulated Verma's resignation letter, which also suggests that vice-president Akhilesh Das Gupta may be unanimously elected as the next president.

Sinha's mail to the executive committee members said that Verma had sent in his resignation to Gupta on Thursday. However, HT could not ascertain the authenticity of the letter as neither Verma's secretary, Manoj Kumar Singh, nor his family members responded to calls.

While none of the BAI officials were willing to come on record, they were taken aback by the turn of events. Even Sinha could not be reached on his mobile.

Gupta and Sinha have been at loggerheads with Verma since the BAI election in June last year and the executive committee had even suspended Sinha for anti-association activities. However, the suspension was revoked last week after the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Verma in connection with the Commonwealth Games scam.

The executive committee had also made Gupta and another vice-president, Hemanta Biswas, as co-chairmen to run the association.

According to the resignation letter, Verma has suggested that elections should only be conducted for the post of president and treasurer as only the two had completed 12 years in office as per the government guidelines.

"For the post of treasurer, a general consensus may be evolved among the members," the letter said.

"For the post of president, I propose the name of Akhilesh Das Gupta who has been associated with badminton for the past 40 years… I would request my friends and well-wishers to support him."

The surprising part is that Verma had sent a mail to BAI office-bearers the day he was arrested nominating Biswas as the acting president.