Indian cricket team all-rounder Hardik Pandya and opener KL Rahul were fined on Saturday Rs 20 lakh each by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their sexist remarks on popular TV chat show ‘Koffee with Karan’. In the published report on the BCCI website, Ombudsman DK Jain punished both the players for their offensive remarks against women on a TV show and directed them to pay Rs one lakh each to the widows of 10 constables in paramilitary forces, who have lost their lives on duty. Pandya and Rahul have also been asked to deposit Rs 10 lakh each in the fund, created for the promotion of cricket for blind in the country.
‘If the amounts are not paid/ deposited by the players within the time granted (four weeks), the BCCI may deduct the said amounts from the match fees payable to the players and make the requisite deposits,’ the report by Mr Jain added. The Supreme Court-appointed Ombudsman had issued notices to Pandya and Rahul earlier this month, to appear for deposition of their controversial comments on ‘Koffee with Karan’. Pandya and Rahul were provisionally suspended by the Committee of Administrators (COA) for their remarks before the suspension was lifted, pending an inquiry by the Ombudsman. Both players became subjects of nationwide criticism, following their remarks on women.
The controversial episode was aired in the first week of January, triggering outrage, which prompted the COA to call the duo back from the tour of Australia, handing them provisional suspensions. No other punishment will be given to the cricketers, the report said. (UNI)
