#MeToo movement: Hit by sexual harassment allegations, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri forced to skip ICC meeting

Hit by the #MeToo storm, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment, has pulled out of an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Singapore after the Committee of Administrators (COA) declined his request for more time to explain the charges put on him.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary has replaced him to represent the Board at the meeting scheduled in Singapore from October 16-19, COA chief Vinod Rai told PTI.

“Rahul had sought 14 days for a detailed explanation as he said that he is working with his legal team and since he was to attend ICC Meeting from October 16-19 in Singapore,” Rai said.

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“But I clearly told Rahul that I cannot let this issue simmer for 14 days as the BCCI office will be affected by it. Since he wants to sit with his lawyers now, I allowed him exemption from ICC Meeting,” he added.

Chaudhary, who replaced Johri, has already reached Singapore for the upcoming meeting.

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The allegations of sexual harassment against Rahul Johri has been made by an anonymous person, who claimed to be his colleague during his time at the Discovery Channel. Johri had worked in various positions at the Discovery Channel from 2001 to 2016 before taking the charge as the BCCI CEO.

Johri became the BCCI’s first CEO after the revamp of its administrative structure owing to the Lodha Committee recommendations.