"CCI prez wants my daughter to enter into an illicit relationship with him"

The elite Cricket Club of India's (CCI) president Kekoo Nicholson is at the centre of an unsavoury imbroglio that has shaken the foundations of one of South Mumbai's most prestigious institutions.

The father of a woman club member has sent a letter to the executive committee accusing Nicholson of hounding and stalking his daughter. mid-day has accessed a copy of the letter dated June 6, 2016, addressed to the club's secretary Commodore N K Jha.

Kekoo Nicholson

"Over the past one year Kekoo Nicholson has been trying to build illicit proximity with my married daughter and her family who are also members using the club,' said the letter. 'He has been warned umpteen number of times to stay away from my daughter and her children. I have also been observing the posts by Mr. Nicholson on his Facebook profile page about my daughter which is causing tremendous embarrassment to me and my family. He has been pursuing my daughter to enter into an illicit relationship with him. It is plausible that the CCI Chambers guest room has been misused for this purpose."

Blaming the president for the breakdown of his daughter's marriage, the letter says Nicholson is the primary reason for the breakdown of the woman's marriage, affecting her mentally.

The two-page letter ends with the member's signature, requesting the club to take 'appropriate action' against Nicholson and also 'restrain him from making any attempt to approach my family members whenever we visit the club premises.'

In yet another letter dated June 23, addressed to the CCI club secretary, the member pressed the club for answers, stating that by his earlier letter dated June 6, "I had brought to your notice about the conduct of Mr. Kekoo Nicholson, President of the club towards my married daughter and other family members. I also pointed out that how he induced my daughter into an illicit relation with him, which is also demonstrated Mr. Nicholson's Facebook profile as well as the various emails which he had sent to my daughter, copy of which was made available to you...'

It asks the club to take stern disciplinary action against Nicholson, "which in future will desist any such high profile members to play with the lives of innocent members of the club."

CCI sources confirmed they were in receipt of the letters and the matter is under investigation, though the club did not elaborate.

CCI vice-president Naval Pandole was in charge of the club for a four-week period, while Nicholson was on a hiatus in June. While Pandole agreed he did run the club for four weeks, he did not want to comment on the ongoing controversy. Commodore N K Jha, CCI secretary similarly refused to comment, saying it was an internal matter.

"As an executive committee member I am bound by the rules of the club. As a former defence officer, it will not be befitting for me to break any rules," said Jha.

Nicholson avoided this reporter despite repeated attempts. He did not respond to numerous calls and messages seeking comment. He proved elusive when this reporter visited his office earlier this week, actually giving this reporter the slip and leaving the club premises after he learnt that we were in the club seeking comment on the allegations.

While members refused to give their names, citing that they would be hauled up by the club for talking to the media, accusations and counter-accusations have been flying thick and fast. While the complainant says he was forced to write to the club to take action against Nicholson, supporters say this is designed to skew the forthcoming elections slated for September 23 and put the spanner in the works of Nicholson's campaign, should he choose to contest.

While the club, with its approximately 7,000 member base is buzzing with this controversy, and insiders are bracing for a stormy Annual General Meet (AGM) come September.