DDCA Row: Nobody can deter me from fighting corruption, says Kirti Azad

KOCHI: While stating that disciplinary action cannot stop him from fighting corruption, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirti Azad has said that the extra expenditure for the reconstruction of the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium was incurred without any approval from anyone. Without naming finance minister Arun Jaitley, he said that the then president of the Delhi District Cricket Association ( DDCA) was informed about the financial irregularities in the Association through letters and emails. But no action was taken, he added.

Speaking to reporters here, Kirti Azad said that the executive committee of the DDCA had given approval to only the initial estimate of Rs 24 crore for the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium for reconstruction in 2008 by the contractors, Engineers Projects India Ltd.

However, the expenditure shot up to Rs 58 crore, he said, adding that the extra expenditure was incurred without any approval. No proof on cost escalation is available on record. “All the extra expenditure was ratified later in one shot,“ he said. Referring to the financial irregularities in the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA), he said that he will file a PIL in a Delhi court. “Let the truth come out,“ he said.

Kirti Azad said that he expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon. “I am sure the day he is free I would get the time to explain to him about the corruption,“ he said.

Referring to the party meeting to consider disciplinary action against him he said: “Whatever decision they might take, I will honour it“. “But nobody can deter me from fighting corruption,“ the cricketer-turned politician said.