The probe into allegations of sexual harassment against Board of Control for Cricket in India CEO Rahul Johri has concluded with the chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, Vinod Rai, stating that Johri should continue as the CEO of BCCI and resume his duties.

After allegations of sexual harassment against Johri surfaced in October, the CoA had formed a three-member independent committee to probe into the allegations.

Today, November 21, the three-member committee comprising Justice Rakesh Sharma (Retd), Barkha Singh and Veena Gowda submitted their report to the CoA. In the report, Sharma has stated: “The complainants have failed to provide their cases as set up by them and we (me and Smt. Barkha Singh) are of the opinion that Mr. Rahul Johri has not abused his powers. The allegations of sexual harassment in the office or else where are false, baseless and have been fabricated and manufactured with an ulterior motive to harm Mr. Rahul Johri and throw him out of BCCI as indicated in some communications, and reactions expressed in the e-mails, statements in the press.”

In addition, Sharma also stated: “There has to be a balancing of the rights just as the complainant women have a right, the respondent-CEO also has a right and in these circumstances and facts of the case, we are not ready to hold him guilty of the charges. He appears to be innocent. In our opinion (me and Mrs. Barkha Singh), it would be pre-mature, unjust and unfair to recommend any action against Mr. Rahul Johri on the basis of material placed before us…No adverse action need to be taken against Mr. Rahul Johri, CEO, BCCI, on the basis of these mischievous, false, fabricated, unsubstantiated complaints, e-mails, tweets etc on social media.”

While in agreement with Sharma, Singh also put on record that “such kind of motivated and fabricated allegations will diminish the status of women and the job opportunity for them. Such complaints will also have an adverse effect on the fight for equality for women.”

As for the third member of the probe committee, Gowda has stated that Johri’s conduct has been “unprofessional and inappropriate”. Such conduct would adversely affect BCCI’s reputation, she added. Excerpt of her recommendations are produced below:

b) “The Conduct of Mr. Rahul Johri at Birmingham, as a CEO of an institution such as BCCI is unprofessional and inappropriate which would adversely affect its reputation and the same has to be looked at by the concerned authorities.

c) In view of his conduct at Birmingham as well as keeping in mind the allegations made by Ms. X and his conduct before this Committee with respect to the photographs submitted, it is essential that Mr. Johri undergo some form of gender sensitivity counselling/ training.”

Following the report, citing Sharma and Singh’s recommendations, Rai stated that it would be premature, unjust and unfair to recommend any action against Johri. He also stated that since Gowda did not find Johri guilty of sexual harassment—she found it unprofessional and inappropriate and recommended counselling—the “clear inference from this recommendation is that, going forward, Mr. Johri needs to be counselled” but no adverse action is warranted.

Diana Edulji, another member of the CoA, however, disagreed with Rai. She stated that she does not agree with Sharma and Singh’s conclusions. In light of Gowda’s recommendation,Edulji was of the view that the Committee’s verdict was split, 2:1. She also added that Johri should be asked to tender his resignation with immediate effect.

With no consensus between the two members of the CoA, Rai has stated that the “natural consequence would be that Mr. Johri continues as the CEO of BCCI and is entitled resume office”.