BCCI Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry offers his assistance to committee probing #MeToo allegations against CEO Rahul Johri

BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry has become the first high profile office bearer to have written to the independent probe panel, offering to assist them in the alleged sexual harassment case against CEO Rahul Johri.

The three-member probe panel had given a deadline of November 9 for anyone wanting to assist the committee in the probe against Johri to email them. “Yes, Anirudh had emailed to the panel on Friday night itself offering to help them in the probe. He is the first high profile official who has come out in the open and mailed to the Committee,” a senior BCCI official who is aware of the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The BCCI treasurer offering to assist the Committee in the probe can be seen as a big development. “Earlier the Committee did not summon IPL petitioner Aditya Verma, who wanted to depose before the panel as they were not sure of his locus standi. Now a current office bearer has raised his hand and written an email. This is becoming serious now,” the official said.

Chaudhry could not be reached for his comments on the issue. Johri currently has been sent on leave till the probe gets over. The panel is expected to summon people for deposition for a couple of days and finish the probe by November 15.

In October, the CoA set up this three-member panel for this matter. Former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Rakesh Sharma, who has been named chairman, former Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Barkha Singh and former CBI Director P C Sharma were chosen to look into the charges against Johri. The panel was given to weeks period, during which Johri would remain on leave.

READ: BCCI Submits Documents To Probe Panel In Alleged Sexual Harassment Case Against Rahul Johri

An anonymous woman accused Johri of taking advantage of her when they met over coffee to discuss some job prospects with her. While the woman kept her identity secret, she stated that ‘Johri took her to his place when his wife and child was not home and forcibly assaulted her'.

"I was shaking throughout after, not capable of even understanding what had just happened. How did I make it happen, I asked myself repeatedly! He kept shaking his head, smiling and telling me- you're good!", her post on Twitter read.