BFI secretary general writes to PM Modi alleging intimidation; executive director calls claims baseless

Pramod Kumar, secretary general of the Boxing Federation of India, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13 alleging that president Ajay Singh and executive director Col. Arun Malik used "criminal intimidation" to block a proposed no-confidence motion within the BFI, a charge Malik has dismissed as "baseless." Kumar's letter, a copy of which is with PTI, escalated an internal dispute over governance in the federation.

In the letter dated October 13 Kumar described a "serious governance breakdown" at the BFI and said a majority of affiliated state units and executive committee members had submitted formal requisitions seeking a no-confidence motion against Singh. Kumar wrote that, "As the duly elected Secretary General of BFI, I am bound by the Federation's constitution to honour these requisitions and carry out the democratic mandate of our member units." He also accused Singh of directing the federation’s day-to-day affairs through Malik "without lawful standing."

Kumar cited principles of procedural fairness in his letter, writing: "Basic sports governance and the rules of Natural Justice require that an office bearer facing a motion of No Confidence must not use executive power to defeat or disrupt that process." He said Singh continued to run operations and issue instructions via Malik despite the pending motion.

The secretary general alleged that officials had resorted to coercive tactics, writing: "They have resorted to criminal intimidation, issuing threats to me as well as State affiliated Units and are sending unauthorised notices on a daily basis in an attempt to stop me from fulfilling my constitutional responsibilities." Kumar added that state associations supporting the motion were being threatened with suspension and the imposition of ad hoc committees.

Kumar further complained that his access to the federation’s official email account had been removed, writing: "In an effort to paralyse my office and obstruct official work, my federation email access was abruptly revoked without my knowledge or consent," and said the action hindered his duties and raised questions about the security of federation records. He also raised safety concerns, stating: "The hostility has grown so intense that I hold grave concerns for my personal safety as well. If any physical harm comes to me, Ajay Singh and Col. (Retd) Arun Malik must be held directly accountable for the said harm to me."

Col. Arun Malik rejected Kumar's allegations when speaking to PTI, saying: "All these allegations are baseless and not true. We have done no such thing." Malik also denied that Kumar's email access had been removed: "Nobody has revoked his email access. He can get it checked, we have no issues," he said. Addressing the planned meeting, Malik asserted that it could not proceed, stating: "There can't be a meeting because it is unconstitutional. Even if some people gather to meet, it will have no relevance because it is not as per the constitution."

Kumar has sought to convene a Special General Meeting on October 28 to put the no-confidence motion against Ajay Singh to a vote; Malik maintains the gathering cannot be held and has no constitutional standing.