#Me too: More Trouble for Rahul Johri

Guwahati: More Troubles awaits for Rahul Johri, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO. Johri who was allegedly accused of sexual harassment earlier in October is in trouble once again after fresh allegations were labelled against him on Friday by another anonymous complainant.

Social Media is buzzed with the latest claims surfaced via social media after former Mumbai captain Shishir Hattangadi took to Twitter and revealed he was ready to testify against Johri.

According to Hattangadi, the victim approached him saying that Johri sought sexual favours from her while serving as the BCCI CEO.

“Miss X reached out to me, saying I have experienced this with this gentleman, while he was in the position of BCCI CEO. What do I do, can you help me? I said yes, I will talk to the COA members. I talked to a COA member and requested them to speak to her and put it on paper and the matter ended there. And then...I also tweeted to the BCCI that I am happy to come and testify or speak to you on this issue,” Hattangadi quoted.

"I asked the lady to write to the COA because whatever you say has to be documented and presented to the three-member committee. You cannot leave anything in the realms of speculation. This is an allegation for somebody to contest if they have to. But you have said it, so put it on paper," he added.

The 57-year-old also claimed that he had nothing against Johri, stating it was a “moral responsibility” to help his friend.

On the otherhand, The COA (Committee of Administrators) on Thursday formed a three-member panel to probe the allegation of sexual harassment against BCCI CEO Rahul Johri but chairman Vinod Rai stood in the way of his sacking which was demanded by his fellow COA member among others.

Meanwhile in a release issued by the Committee, said," "The Chairman of the COA did not agree and felt that an independent inquiry was necessary as the tweet was anonymous," the COA statement said. "The Chairman was very clear that in similar instances, the person against whom allegations had been made, were permitted to represent their case before an independent committee which would then take a considered view after weighing all evidence," the statement further read.

The panel set up by the COA has been given 15 days to submit a report and it will also examine "all allegations of sexual harassment against Johri while he was employed with the BCCI". The panel comprises former Allahabad High Court judge Justice Rakesh Sharma, who has been named chairman, Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Barkha Singh and former CBI Director P C Sharma.

The post by the accuser, who claimed to be Johri's ex-colleague at a previous job, has been deleted by the twitter handle that originally shared it.

Johri will continue to remain on leave until the independent committee submits its report and a decision is taken on its findings.

Earlier, the state units of Saurashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa wrote to the COA, demanding Johri's removal.