“A tale of two tickets”

The newly elected managing committee of the Parsee Gymkhana (PG) at Marine Drive has "unanimously decided not to proceed further” in the allegations made against the Gymkhana’s vice president and cricket secretary Khodadad Yazdegardi (see "A tale of two tickets,” Parsiana, November 7, 2013) regarding profiteering from the sale of cricket match tickets. A three-member committee formed to investigate the allegations had reported in September 2013 that Yazdegardi had benefited from the sale of tickets and the Gymkhanan’s managing committee connived at the scam.
Three lawyer members Faredun Devitre, Jamshed Mistry and Cyrus Ardeshir who were appointed "to go through the report and related documents and advise the managing committee on the future course of action,” reported this March "that in their considered opinion the enquiry committee’s report would be vulnerable in a court of law and would not be able to stand judicial scrutiny,” stated PG president Kaizaad Wadia in a letter to members. "Accordingly, the managing committee unanimously decided not to proceed further in the matter and informed Yazdegardi in writing to that effect. Yazdegardi on his part responded promptly by withdrawing his legal action and as such, the matter now stands closed.”
In an earlier circular to members forwarded to Parsiana by PG member Rustom Jasoomoney, Wadia noted, "In the month of November 2013, after the culmination of the Test match, 11 members filed a complaint with Marine Drive Police Station alleging black marketing in Test match tickets by members of the Cricket Sub-committee and by myself (in my capacity as interim president).

Parsee Gymkhana at Marine Drive

"It was explained at the 125th annual general meeting held on December 22, 2013 by the chairman of the meeting (Mehli Golvala) that the said complaint was misconceived, and was a consequence of misinformation. When the Wankhede Stadium was constructed in 1976, the Gymkhana had signed a specific agreement with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) whereunder the Gymkhana was permitted to sell tickets out of its quota to members and members’ guests only. It was not permissible under the said agreement to sell tickets to a rank outsider. After the advent of color television, on account of severe difficulties in selling match tickets and consequential financial losses, the Gymkhana, as a matter of policy, had for the past more than 20-25 years, been selling such tickets in block to persons recommended by the MCA. However, in view of the 1976 agreement, it was necessary to demonstrate that the tickets were sold to a member’s guest and that is why it was normal practice for a member of the Cricket Sub-committee to lend his name for that purpose. Monies were received directly by the Gymkhana for the sale of the said tickets and credited into its coffers.
"Part of the problem had arisen because of the peculiar demand for Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test match — some members towards the fag end, were not able to purchase their full quota of 10 guest tickets. The managing committee at its meeting held on October 24, 2013 decided to sell 500 tickets in the manner described above to block buyers and minuted the same, on the presumption that the MCA would allot 974 tickets to the Gymkhana which is the Gymkhana’s quota. Unfortunately, the MCA allotted only 606 tickets in the first tranche as they did for the World Cup 2011. The cricket secretaries of all five Gymkhanas, including ours, immediately met the then president of MCA, Ravi Savant, on the next day and pleaded with him to restore the original quota, as had been expected. As a special favor, the MCA allotted a further quota of 177 tickets only, making a total of 783 tickets in all.
"On being explained the relevant facts in detail, two members out of the original 11 withdrew the said complaint. The balance nine members, viz Jessie Mistry, Homi Dalal, Tehmul Dalal, Adi Pardiwalla, Mehrnosh Surti, Cyrus Pooniwalla, Jimmy Driver, Noshir Randeria and Sam Billimoria, were unreasonably adamant and refused to withdraw the same. Doing so would have been an act of good faith and avoided much unpleasantness. However, I am happy to inform all members that the Mumbai Police, through the Marine Drive Police Station, conducted detailed enquiries, with the said buyers of tickets, and obtained explanations from the members of the Cricket Sub-committee and have now concluded vide a letter dated February 11, 2014 that there is no merit in the complaint and that the matter has been treated by them as closed.
According to an English translation of a communication dated February 11, 2014, Police Inspector Dinesh Desai of the Marine Drive Police Station wrote: "Sub: About complaint lodged by Mr Jessie Mistry. Ref: Your letter dated 24.01.2014. This is with regard to the above mentioned subject and reference to your letter we hereby inform you that after going through all the investigation for the alleged black marketing of match tickets, we have come to the conclusion that there is nothing found in this baseless allegation and the investigation has been closed.”
"Alas, what was enough to convince the police did not suffice to convince our own members,” continues Wadia. "In short, their refusal to withdraw the complaint had little to do with reason and a lot to do with obstinacy and open defiance.
"Anyway, as a matter of good policy, it has been recommended that, in future, the managing committee shall declare from the outset the number of tickets which are being offered to block buyers.
"I hope this brings to an end a sordid chapter in our Gymkhana’s history.”