CBI investigated Badminton Association of India president Akhilesh Das Gupta

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had probed the Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Akhilesh Das Gupta and other office bearers of the Delhi Capital Badminton Association (DCBA) on charges of nepotism in selection of a team that went to Tokyo in 2014 for the Youth Sports Exchange Programme.

But since the agency didn’t have the mandate to initiate a formal criminal probe in the case, it referred the matter to the sports ministry for further action a few months back.

The CBI’s initial probe found that of the 23 members in the team, seven were wards and close relatives of the office bearers of the DCBA, including that of the BAI chief.

“The team was selected by the DCBA and not BAI. Besides, my daughter was well qualified to go on the trip.

There was no requirement to send only badminton champions for the trip. The programme asked for those kids who were proficient in cultural activities and my daughter was qualified on that count.

The government sought a report on the matter and we replied. The probe was initiated at the behest of a former office bearer of BAI who was thrown out due to serious charges of corruption,” said Gupta.

Sources said the participants were selected without conducting trials or publicising the selection process. Many others were ineligible as they had not played at the regional or state level at the time of selection. One of the selection criteria was that the players should have competed in local and regional tournaments.

The CBI sources said the expense for the trip was borne by the government of Japan.