IR: People are calling this a 'sting' operation. What is your
comment?
ML: This is not a sting operation. By calling it a sting
operation, certain interested parties are attempting to divert attention
from the truth. They should ask what's on the tape, not why it was made.
It is ironical that these same people were quick to applaud secretly
taped videos reported recorded by none other than Jamshed Appoo himself.
But to explain anyway, a sting operation by definition is when a person
carrying it out is the one who call the other party with the intention
of entrapping them. In this case, as has been verified by the RWITC
office, Capt. Appoo made the first call to me and followed it up with a
second call the same night. In both calls I was told in no uncertain
terms that I'd best not go to Vinayak's appeal. There were constant
references to my work which was already being targeted.
Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine that a conspiracy with regards to
Vinayak Gaekwad's punishment had been hatched. I only acted in self
defense and out of precaution under my brother-in-law Mahesh
Jethmalani's advice. I accidentally stumbled upon the truth when I
accepted Dr. Poonawalla's invitation to meet him at his residence to
discuss my distress.
IR: Aren't such disclosures bad for the sport?
ML: Just the opposite. I believe that exposing or
establishing the truth can only provide long term benefits to the health
and growth of the sport. It also brings about the changes that the sport
needs to instill public confidence.
In this present case Times Of India was the first of all the morning
papers to break the story. When they called me I refused to comment. On
the other hand Capt. Appoo went on record and forced my hand to clear up
the inaccuracies stemming from that report. This question should be
directed to those who initiated this media scrutiny.
IR: Do you think your actions are justified?
ML: The fact of the matter is that I sought a private
meeting with my colleagues on the Board Of Appeal and they were the ones
who decided in my absence to forward this issue to the committee for an
inquiry since subverting the course of justice is an extremely serious
offence.
I was compelled to take the steps I did because I was targeted. I was
only trying to defend myself; I had no idea how dirty a game this had
become.
IR: What are your expectations and options?
ML: As far as options go, that will depend on my
brother-in-law's advice. But I do hope club members realise and enforce
the need for transparency. If that includes televising or recording all
deliberations and proceedings of the RWITC, I'd be more than happy to be
recorded. It's the need of the hour to stop this political in-fighting
and one way of doing it is to create a just and unbiased professional
management organization in place to manage the affairs of the RWITC.
People who can gain or lose from decisions should not be on the
governing body and if that includes me, so be it.
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