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Recent developments in the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) does point to significant governance and financial management failures. The untimely death of treasurer Ashutosh Ranjan Singh on June 24 and the subsequent unauthorized withdrawals of approximately Rs 40 lakh without notifying the bank, reflect poorly on the association’s adherence to proper financial protocols.
Anti-corruption crusader Aditya Verma’s criticisms are well-founded. “Withdrawals made without the proper authorization after the death of the treasurer raise legal questions about adherence to banking regulations and financial protocols. It also raises ethical concerns about transparency and accountability in handling organizational funds,” Verma said.
Verma calls for immediate action to restore transparency and accountability in the BCA and highlights the urgent need for systemic changes. The BCA must inform the bank about the treasurer’s demise, verify all recent transactions, and ensure that future transactions follow proper authorization procedures. An internal investigation should be conducted to identify how these lapses occurred and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents.
Verma’s concerns about the damage to BCA’s reputation and the erosion of public trust are valid. Organizations must uphold high standards of governance and transparency. “Such actions can damage the reputation of the BCA and erode public trust. Organizations entrusted with managing funds are expected to uphold high standards of governance and transparency. There is no respect for the deceased,” an angry Verma said.
The lack of respect for the deceased and the potential legal ramifications of unauthorized transactions further highlights the gravity of the situation. The letter from Sanjay Kumar, deputy IG of the Society Registration department, to BCCI president Roger Binney about financial irregularities, adds another layer of seriousness to the matter. It’s crucial for the authorities to take appropriate steps to address these issues and restore the integrity of the BCA.
Typically, a treasurer holds signing authority for financial transactions. After the treasurer’s death, procedures should have been followed to update the bank about the change in signing authority. Failure to do so may raise legal questions about the validity of subsequent transactions. Also, banking regulations require that changes in signing authority are promptly communicated to prevent unauthorized access to funds. “Hope, the authorities will take the right step by initiating some steps,” Verma said.
