Ex-DDCA selector Amit Bhandari denies corruption charges

Amit Bhandari

Ex-India pacer and former Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) chief selector, Amit Bhandari has denied charges made against him by a club-level cricketer relating to corruption in selection.

In a cross First Information Report (FIR) filed on Wednesday, cricketer Anuj Dedha claimed that Bhandari and fellow Delhi selector Sukhvinder Singh had asked for Rs 25 lakh to be picked in the Ranji Trophy team. Dedha also named Mithun Manhas in his cross FIR, claiming that the former Delhi coach was also present during a financial negotiation with his brother.

Meanwhile, Dedha is facing criminal charges for allegedly physically attacking Bhandari after he failed to make a cut in the Delhi U-23 selection trials for the Mushtaq Ali Trophy at St Stephen's Ground last year.

"This cross FIR is only an attempt to force us to reach a compromise," Bhandari said. "I was attacked by Anuj and his friends. Recently, we have submitted another set of CCTV footage to the investigation officer in which Anuj and around 15 people are captured hitting my head with a bat and other objects." Bhandari was allegedly attacked with bats, iron rods and hockey sticks, causing a head injury that needed five stitches. The DDCA banned Dedha following the incident.

Meanwhile, Manhas said, "As the case against Anuj is in the last stage, this FIR is a pressure tactic. He targeted me because I am a witness in this case and I had spoken in favour of Bhandari, who is my former teammate and friend."

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