BFI president Ajay Singh suspends secretary general Pramod Kumar after no-confidence motion

In Kolkata, in a letter issued on Tuesday, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh suspended secretary general Pramod Kumar after Pramod moved a no-confidence motion against him, the federation said.

The suspension follows an earlier show-cause notice served to Pramod and, according to Ajay, several pending enquiries. Ajay’s letter referred to alleged actions by Pramod “with respect to various acts and financial decisions taken by him.”

The letter accused Pramod of failing to cooperate and of taking steps that, the federation said, sought to destabilise the body. “Apart from the lack of cooperation, attempts have been made to destabilise the organisation by issuing directions and notices without authority, intimidate and malign senior officials of the BFI and circulate unsubstantiated allegations across the media,” said the letter.

Ajay Singh has barred Pramod Kumar from exercising all powers of the secretary general and has relieved him from all BFI panels, the federation statement added.

In response, Pramod challenged the suspension, saying: “Ajay Singh cannot suspend me as a no-confidence motion has been moved against him.” He also said the general house will decide Ajay’s fate on October 28 and asserted he has the backing of 28 associations while promising to oppose what he called Ajay’s dictatorship.

The dispute centres on the competing actions of a suspended secretary general who has initiated a no-confidence motion and a president who has cited pending enquiries and formal notices in enforcing a suspension.

Pramod has said the matter will be settled by the BFI general house on October 28, which he described as the forum that will determine Ajay Singh’s position.