The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) banned journalist Boria Majumdar for two years after investigating the allegations levelled by wicket keeper-batter, Wriddhiman Saha, for alleged intimidation. Saha had shared a screenshot of messages on 23rd February, alleging that he was intimidated by a journalist for not giving an interview.
According to a notice issued by the BCCI, Majumdar is barred from getting press accreditation, interviewing registered players and accessing the board-owned facilities.
BCCI had taken cognizance of the incident and formed a committee comprising Rajeev Shukla (BCCI Vice President), Arun Singh Dhumal (Treasurer) and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia (Councillor). The committee deliberated on whether the messages sent by Majumdar were in the nature of threat and intimidation.
The copy of the letter sent by BCCI to its members stated, “As you may be aware, Wriddhiman Saha had shared screenshots of messages sent by a journalist on social media platform, Twitter, wherein he stated that he felt bullied by the conduct of the said journalist. Saha in the hearing named Boria Majumdar as the journalist. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had taken cognizance of this incident and deemed it necessary to investigate and probe the matter to avoid the recurrence of such instances with other players.
In this regard, BCCI formed a committee comprising Rajeev Shukla, Vice President, BCCI, Arun Singh Dhumal, Treasurer, BCCI and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, Councillor, BCCI (“BCCI Committee”). The key issues for deliberation for the BCCI Committee in the matter was to ascertain if the messages sent by the journalist were in the nature of threat and intimidation.
The BCCI Committee considered the submissions by both Saha and Majumdar and concluded that the actions by Majumdar were indeed in the nature of threat and intimidation. The BCCI Committee recommended the following sanctions to the Apex Council of BCCI. The Apex Council of BCCI agreed with the recommendations of the BCCI Committee and imposed the following sanctions:
2 (two) year ban on getting any accreditation as a member of the press in any of the cricket matches (domestic and international) in India;
2 (two) year ban on getting any interview with any registered players in India; and
2 (two) year ban on access to any of BCCI and members associations owned cricket facilities.
In view of the above, we hereby request you to kindly facilitate the compliance of the aforementioned sanctions in your respective associations.”
