KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya get deposition notices from ombudsman in Koffee with Karan controversy

The Koffee with Karan controversy is back in the news as the Supreme Court-appointed BCCI Ombudsman Justice (Retd) DK Jain has issued deposition notices to Indian players Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, for their appearance on the show, which saw both of them making crass and sexist comments.

Their appearance on the show received severe backlash as their comments on women and their behavior on the show resulted in the social media turning their back on them and this led to the CoA suspending them provisionally and pulled them from the international matches against Australia. The bans were lifted pending an inquiry by Ombudsman.

BCCI to coordinate with Pandya and Rahul for their deposition

“I have issued notices last week to Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul asking them to appear for deposition. As per the principles of natural justice, I need to hear their side. It’s up to them now to decide when they want to appear,” Justice Jain was quoted saying by Hindustan Times. Now it’s up to the BCCI to coordinate with the franchises for who KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya play in the IPL. They will have to get in touch with Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians respectively to arrange for the players to appear in front of the ombudsman.

“Both are playing IPL and the itinerary is packed with back to back matches and a grueling travel schedule,” a BCCI official said. It is learned that they might depose ahead of the April 11 clash between the two teams in Mumbai. The Ombudsman, who is also the BCCI’s ad-hoc Ethics Officer, made it clear that for the matter to reach its rational conclusion, the duo needs to depose.

The players also have to appear in person and not via their legal representatives. The episode which created this controversy had aired in January and led to massive outrage everywhere and made the COA call the duo back from the tour of Australia, and then banning them.

Rahul and Pandya had given unconditional apologies and the bans were lifted pending inquiry from ombudsman and when DK Jain was appointed in the role, CoA handed the matter over to him. Another matter ombudsman is handling is the complaint about Sourav Ganguly’s ‘conflict of interest’ in his dual role of being the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president and an adviser to IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.

“I am supposed to receive a fresh set of complaints on various issues today. I don’t know whether the issue (Ganguly’s Conflict) is in this lot or not. As and when I get the details, I will have a detailed look into the matter,” said Jain.

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