Archery Assn temporarily suspends city unit’s general secretary, treasurer

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7

The Archery Association of India (AAI) has temporarily suspended the general secretary and the treasurer of the Chandigarh Archery Association on allegations of financial bungling.

The decision was taken during the annual general meeting of the Archery Association of India held today. An inquiry has been marked against the two officials.

Chandigarh unit’s general secretary Vikram Singh and treasurer Sanket Sharma have been temporarily suspended from the national association. They have failed to submit bill details and an inquiry has been marked against them. The apex disciplinary committee of the national association will investigate the matter before taking any final call. Till then, both officials will remain suspended. — Pramod Chandurkar, General Secretary, Archery Association of India

“Chandigarh unit’s general secretary Vikram Singh and treasurer Sanket Sharma have been temporarily suspended from the national association. They have failed to submit bill details and an inquiry has been marked against them. The apex disciplinary committee of the national association will investigate the matter before taking any final call. Till then, both officials will remain suspended,” said Pramod Chandurkar, General Secretary, Archery Association of India.

Earlier, in January, the national association has sent a legal notice to Vikram after the local association failed to submit bill against advance payment of approximately Rs18 lakh despite repeated notices, claimed sources.

As per the legal notice, the Chandigarh Archery Association failed to submit utilisation certificate/supporting bill/voucher against the advance payment for conducting the 1st National Ranking Archery Tournament in Chandigarh during April 2019.

The local association (Chandigarh Archery Association) is headed by Amarinder Singh Bazaz, who is also president of the Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA), along with Vikram, son of Maha Singh, general secretary of the COA.

Bazaz is said to have attended the today’s meeting of the Archery Association of India.

“Both officials will be asked to join the inquiry. The minutes of the meeting will be sent to all affiliated units. We have been waiting to hear from them for the past few years. However, after failing to hear any positive response, we have to take this step. The advance payment comes down to nearly Rs18 lakh, which is not a nominal amount. We have been under pressure from the Ministry to submit all bills. These officials should have acted responsibly. If we find any kind of financial bungling, suitable action will be surely taken by all means,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

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