#MeToo Rahul Johri to not represent BCCI in ICC meeting for CEOs

BCCI CEO Rahul Johri who has been accused of alleged sexual harassment as a part of the #metoo campaign will not attend the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executives’ meeting. Amitabh Choudhary, the acting secretary of the BCCI will instead represent the Indian board in the meeting that is scheduled to be held in Singapore on October 17 and 18.

Last week Johri was accused of sexual misconduct by an anonymous woman who claimed to be a former colleague. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) reacted to the situation and asked him to submit an explanation within a week despite the fact that the said incident had happened during his previous employment with a TV channel. The CoA had said that his response will determine the further course of action.

ESPNcricinfo reported that Johri’s participation in the meeting was ruled out as it the situation would be “very uncomfortable” for most, according to a cricket official. It further stated that the BCCI’s internal committee that was setup to handle workplace harassment in April 2018 has received multiple complaints against top-level officials.

The committee is chaired by Karina Kripalani (BCCI lawyer), Saba Karim (General Manager Operations), Rupawati Rao (BCCI accounts), the fourth member is Veena Gowda who is women’s rights lawyer and is the only external participant.

As per ESPNcricinfo, there have been three such complains raised inside the BCCI in the last 18 months. They are all pertaining to sexual harassment and against the senior executives of the board. Apparently Johri’s name also features in one or more of those complaints.

The allegations

The survivor in her account that was posted on Twitter had said, “Rahul Johri: Currently the CEO of BCCI – Ex Discovery Channel. Rahul was an ex-colleague. Through the times of partying at Raj’s house, then building a successful media business, and then wading through other channels — Rahul kept in touch with me.

“Till date I have borne the burden of this sordid incident, blaming myself for this — I have wondered if I had showed I was needy, I don’t think so — but it’s all hazy and confused in my head.

“For years, I have told myself — that was so cheap of me — but the truth is, it was so sudden and so manipulated that I had no chance at even knowing what the hell this was,” the survivor wrote.

CoA’s statement read:

“There are certain media reports today, including in the social media, pertaining to Mr. Rahul Johri, CEO BCCI. The reports disclose allegations against Mr. Johri, by an unnamed person through a twitter handle,” the CoA stated in a release.

“The allegations also relate to his previous employment with a large media house. The allegations have appeared as a part of the “me too” movement. Though the said allegations do not pertain to his employment with the BCCI, the Committee of Administrators of the BCCI has deemed it appropriate to seek an explanation from Mr Johri in relation to the allegations. He has been asked to submit his explanation within a week. The future course of action will be considered on receipt of his explanation.”

For all the latest cricket news and other updates follow CricTracker.