Former kabaddi players accuse franchise owner of ‘kabootarbaazi’

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 29

Six former players of World Kabaddi League today accused US-based NRI and franchise owner of Royal Kings Sarabjit Thiara of not giving them money for the matches played in the maiden edition of the league, held in 2014. They even accused Thiara of sending two people illegally to USA.

Team’s former coach Makhan Singh, while accusing Thiara of cheating, alleged that a majority of players in the team were B-category players, as categorised by the league organisers, and were entitled to receive Rs 15 lakh.

“However, due to heavy losses suffered by the league organisers, they first brought the participation money down to Rs 10 lakh and later didn’t pay it to six of the players,” Makhan alleged.

He said though the organisers had promised that they would return the dope testing fee of Rs 30,000 to the players who would clear the test, they had not done so till date.

The players also charged team’s former manager Sushil Sharma for ‘kabootarbaazi’. He had taken two people illegally to USA by showing them as players, they alleged.

Former players, including Harjot Singh, Bohar Singh, Jaskaran Singh and Nirbhay Singh, said though they were assured money by Thiara many times, he did not pay it.

“He asked us to play this edition as well, but we refused and asked him to pay our earlier dues. Finding no way, he changed the entire team and inducted new players,” they lamented.

The players have urged league commissioner Kamaljit Hayer to black list Thiara. They would file a criminal complaint against the latter and his manager and would demand legal action against him, the players said.

Thiara, when contacted, said the players were given money as suggested by former league commissioner Pargat Singh. He also accused Makhan Singh of betraying the team in between and even inducting players who came positive in dope test, thus defaming the team. He also refuted the ‘kabootarbaazi’ charges levied against him by the former players.

When contacted, Hayer said since the league had been overtaken by new organisers, he had nothing to do with the old cases. He, however, said this time the organisers would ensure conduct of the league in the most professional way.