ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2016 matches cannot be played at Feroz Shah Kotla

Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium

The Delhi High Court held on 18th December said that ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2016 matches cannot be played in Delhi unless the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) acquires completion certificate and requisite compliances. ICC Twenty20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in India from 8th march to 3rd April. 

A bench of justices B.D. Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva further said that it had in its previous order allowed DDCA to hold India-South Africa Test series match in New Delhi from December 3 to 7 on the terms that in future they will not conduct any new tournament without a completion certificate.

It also said that in its December 18 order it was made very clear that DDCA was given “last chance” to get the necessary clearances by 31st march. Clearances from Archaeological Survey of India and Delhi Urban Arts Commission along with no-objection certificate from Land and Development Office and a completion certificate from South Delhi Municipal Corporation.  

The court said: "We had directed SDMC to issue a provisional occupancy certificate for only those Test matches. You get completion certificate and then come here. Without that, we can not give you permission to conduct any matches.”

The DDCA scam created headlines after Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) came looking for files relating to extensive corruption at the DDCA, which was headed by Arun Jaitley.

Former cricketer Kirti Azad had voiced his concern about the financial irregularities in DDCA at various occasions in past. He had demanded a probe against Jaitley and other BCCI members for foreign exchange breaches during the IPL season two.

The Delhi government formed a two-member committee to investigate the allegations. The inquiry committee had submitted its report to the Delhi government about the alleged financial irregularities in DDCA. The Delhi government was preparing to set up an inquiry commission over it when the CBI raids took place.

• Former sports minister Ajay Maken claimed that the investigation by Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) had found that the reconstruction of the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium was carried out between 2002 and 2007, which saw an escalation of costs by Rs 90 crore. The initial budget was 24 crore, but it eventually went up to Rs 114 crore.
• Arun Jaitley is one of the most powerful persons in the Indian government. If the investigation finds wrongdoing by Jaitley, it will surely tarnish the image of the Indian government.