BFI suspends secretary general Pramod Kumar after complaint to PM Narendra Modi

On October 14, 2026 the Boxing Federation of India suspended secretary general Pramod Kumar with immediate effect, a day after he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing BFI president Ajay Singh and executive director Col. Arun Malik of "criminal intimidation" over a proposed no-confidence motion. President Ajay Singh said the suspension is pending an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities, non-cooperation with investigations and misuse of authority.

Singh's suspension order lists multiple allegations against Kumar, including issuing a work order for a broadcasting arrangement without the required approval, failing to cooperate with an inquiry into the cancellation of a national championship and attempting to convene an unauthorised meeting to move a no-confidence motion against the president. The order described the action as an interim protective measure and stated the charges would be examined under the applicable procedures and safeguards of the BFI Constitution.

"You are hereby placed under interim suspension from the office of Secretary General with immediate effect, pending completion of the inquiry or until the order is modified or revoked by the competent authority, subject to the applicable provisions of the BFI Constitution," the suspension order stated.

In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kumar alleged that Singh and Malik had resorted to intimidation to prevent the proposed no-confidence motion, saying several state associations supporting the motion had faced threats of suspension and the possible appointment of ad-hoc committees. Kumar also claimed his access to the federation’s official email account had been revoked without his knowledge or consent, which he said hampered his ability to discharge his responsibilities, and asserted that, as secretary general, he was bound by the BFI Constitution to act on formal requisitions from member units seeking a no-confidence motion.

Col. Arun Malik rejected Kumar’s allegations as "baseless" and denied that Kumar’s official email access had been revoked, saying the matter could be checked. The dispute centres on a special general meeting Kumar sought to convene on October 28 to put the no-confidence motion against Singh to a vote; Malik maintained that the meeting would be unconstitutional.

Singh has ordered an inquiry into the charges against Kumar. The suspension leaves Kumar out of his role while the inquiry is pending, and the federation’s leadership dispute — marked by allegations and counter-allegations from both sides — remains unresolved.

The next procedural steps are the inquiry ordered by Singh, which will examine the charges under the BFI Constitution, and the contested special general meeting Kumar sought to convene on October 28 to consider the no-confidence motion.