The Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators of the BCCI has asked the cricket board’s CEO Rahul Johri to submit his explanation within a week over the sexual harassment allegations made against him.
This was after an anonymous woman posted her ordeal explaining how Johri had allegedly sexually harassed her when the two worked with a channel.
had emails sent about a BUNCH of head honchos in media. survivor has asked to not put out all the names. Rahul Johari, your #timesup #metoo pic.twitter.com/L78Ihkk1u0
— hk {on a hiatus} (@PedestrianPoet) October 12, 2018
The anonymous woman wrote, “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. He would ask – how are you, and then- let’s do coffee…It was difficult to say no to him as he was very persistent and I could not tell him that it was very boring for me to meet him.”
Once inside the house, Johri allegedly assaulted her sexually.
The woman said that Johri had invited him at a five-star hotel in Delhi and she agreed to meet him because she was looking for a job and the former had joined a new channel. After some time, Johri asked her to go to her place in Gurgaon. She said she agreed to accompany him because she had known his wife Seema. However, after reaching his house, she realised that Johri’s wife was not there.”
She wrote, “..He took off his pants. He stood there in his white briefs looking over me. I was too astounded for words and started coughing a very startled cough mixed with some kind of horror and revulsion. I fumbled with the glass. He took it out of my hands and laughed a wry smile and said- this is the last part of your interview with me.”
She went on to add that Johri allegedly forced her to perform oral sex.
She added, “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. I have cursed myself for bringing it upon myself. 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.”
In its statement, the CoA said, “There are certain media reports today, including in the social media, pertaining to Mr. Rahul Johri, CEO BCCI. The reports disclose allegations of sexual harassment made against Mr. Johri, by an unnamed person through a twitter handle.”
It added, “The allegations also relates 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. Future course of action will be considered on receipt of his explanation.”
The CoA seeking explanation comes close on the heels of multiple women coming out in the open alleging serious sexual violence against them by Union Minister MJ Akbar during his time as the editors of two newspapers namely The Telegraph and The Asian Age.
The Narendra Modi government has refused to comment on the issue or take any action on the complaints.
Johri has been the BCCI CEO since June 2016, and before that he was Discovery Networks Asia Pacific’s executive vice-president and general manager for South Asia.
More to follow