BFI chief suspends secretary, treasurer for mismanagement of funds

The upcoming elections of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) took another turn as the president Ajay Singh suspended secretary general Hemanta Kalita and treasurer Digvijay Singh for financial irregularities.

The president took the decision based on the inquiry report of Justice (retd) Sudhir Kumar Jain that found both the officials guilty of misusing funds including fake billing of ambulances, hotel bookings and services.

Interestingly, Digvijay is fighting for the post of secretary general, while Kalita’s nomination papers have been rejected by the Returning Officer as he has completed his two terms in the executive body.

The BFI ordered the inquiry in January this year after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) flagged a complaint sent by Kuldeep Sharma. The complaint alleged financial irregularities by these BFI officials after the body conducted an REC Hunt event, a talent hunt event, in Guwahati in September 2024 for youth and elite boxers.

Subsequently, Justice Jain held the inquiry where both Digvijay and Kalita failed to appear. However, the duo called the decision to appoint a one-man inquiry committee unilateral and arbitrary.

It is understood that this decision broke the peace between the parties, with both Kalita and Digvijay joining hands to oust Ajay Singh from the BFI.

The BFI president’s suspension letter has barred the two from using their official capacity.

“…Justice Jain has concluded his investigation and submitted his report, which has found both of you guilty of serious charges of financial irregularities and mismanagement of funds. The findings of the report establish a clear breach of fiduciary duties and responsibilities expected from individuals holding key positions within the Federation,” the president wrote in his letter on Tuesday.

“In light of the gravity of the findings and to ensure the integrity and transparency of the Federation’s operations, it has been decided to suspend you both from your respective positions as Secretary General and Treasurer of the Boxing Federation of India with immediate effect. You are hereby restrained from performing any duties or exercising any authority in these capacities,” he added.

Serious charges

The report, which has been shared with the sports ministry and SAI, finds both Digvijay and Kalita guilty of mismanagement.

Kalita allegedly awarded tender rights to Avani Events for the talent hunt despite the agency having work experience in providing services in the sector of multinational training camps. Further, he used work order in favour of the agency without following the due tender process and that he prepared the initial quotation for services without calling a meeting of the BFI’s finance committee. Justice Jain also found out that Kalita colluded to inflate the number of trained technical officials in various training programmes conducted by the body. The report says that at least 10 names were released payments despite not qualifying to become technical officials.

Further, Kalita has been found guilty of billing the BFI for a private visit to Delhi. Both Digvijay and Kalita have also been found guilty of unauthorised withdrawals of foreign currency during their official visits outside the country.