Shillong, June 29: Former president of Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) Naba Bhattacharjee has said the complaint by the U-23 cricketers were not brought to his notice by any of the officials of MCA.
Full text of the statement below
“In response to James Sangma’s statement, appearing in a section of the press pertaining to my indictment by MSWC regarding the sexual harassment case involving U-23 age category, women cricketers of Meghalaya, I, would like to strongly rebut his statement which is prejudiced and biased.
I fully co-operated with MSWC and appeared before it on summons on May 26th 2026, and gave my statement that the complaint by the U-23 cricketers were not brought to my notice by any of the officials of MCA between 3rd Dec 2025 when the complaint was purportedly filed, as informed during the MSWC hearing; and election of new office bearers which concluded on 19th Dec 2025, where a new Apex Council was elected and the old body demitted office on 13th January, where too this matter was not brought to our notice. Had the matter been was brought to my notice even in the last hour of my tenure an Emergency Apex Council meeting would have been convened to address this important issue of harassment and initiate necessary action in accordance with law and procedure.
My dissent and statement to this effect, including having access to the MCA official e-mail was clear and unambiguous. Normally as President, I hardly access the MCA mail which is attended to by regular office staff and other officials who attend office regularly as first or subsequent point of contacts.
I still have full faith and impartial adjudication of MSWC and appeal to the commission to once again review my statement and supporting document on the matter as stated above.
Further, the harassed women cricketers approached the MSWC on 3rd May 2026. I was not holding any office in MCA from December 19th the day election results were declared or since formal handing over on 13th January till date. What action was initiated between that point of time till 3rd May when the harassed women cricketers approached the MSWC?.
I strongly deny any suggestion that I failed to act on complaint that was never placed before me. Any statement implying otherwise is factually incorrect, misleading and prejudicial”.
