Ranchi, November 6: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reopened its investigation into alleged large-scale financial irregularities in the construction of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) International Stadium, sending shockwaves through the state’s cricket fraternity.
The central agency has summoned newly elected JSCA president and senior Congress leader Ajay Nath Shahdeo for questioning on November 11 at its Ranchi regional office.
As per reports, the ED wants to record Shahdeo’s statement regarding financial decisions made during the period when he served as vice president of JSCA between 2010 and 2015. Notably, it was the the same phase when the stadium’s construction project was underway.
According to sources, the case involves suspected misuse of around ₹196 crore provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the stadium’s construction. Former Ranji players Ujjwal Das and Sheshnath Pathak, had alleged that the original project cost was inflated from a modest budget to nearly ₹250 crore, raising questions on the utilisation of the fund.
The controversy first came to light a decade ago when complaints were filed against the then JSCA leadership, including late president Amitabh Choudhary, former secretary Rajesh Verma, and former treasurer Govindo Mukherjee. After police allegedly hesitated to take action, the complainants moved court, which ordered the registration of an FIR. Although police later filed a closure report, the court rejected it and directed that the probe to continue.
With possible violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED has now taken charge of the investigation. The agency has demanded a complete record of JSCA’s financial transactions and expenditure details between 2009 and 2016, particularly those related to the construction phase.
The ED reportedly is looking into whether the construction cost was deliberately inflated to divert funds or generate illegal profits.
The fresh summons to Shahdeo, who took over as JSCA president earlier this year, has reignited tensions within the state’s cricket establishment.
