Gill runs penniless ‘ IHF office’ to fight Hockey India

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

ALMOST two years ago, the Indian Hockey Federation ( IHF) was dissolved following a television sting operation that exposed the alleged selectionrelated corruption. But even today, the “ IHF office” here in New Delhi is alive and kicking, with the staff reporting daily for “ work”, though its focus is now entirely different.

With no hockey affairs to manage, the only task for the five- man staff is to do background work for the ongoing court case between KPS Gill- headed IHF and the Indian Olympic Association ( IOA).

Gill had moved the Delhi High Court against the IOA after it superseded the IHF in April 2008, after a television channel showed the then IHF secretary K Jothikumaran allegedly accepting money for selection favours. It was an extremely inglorious exit for Jothikumaran and an unceremonious end to the 81- year- old IHF. For Gill, too, it was a humiliating exit after a 14- year chequered stint as IHF boss.

“ Of course, we still work. But it is not related to hockey. Since April 2008, there has not been much work for us on a day- to- day basis. We essentially do ground work for the ongoing court case. Now we are preparing for the next hearing, which is on January 20,” a source close to Gill told M AIL T ODAY . Ironically, Gill is fighting the case against a body, Hockey India, with which he joined hands in June last year. While announcing his switch to the new umbrella organisation, formed as per the International Hockey Federation rules, Gill had said: “ Our advocates will get together and take care of it ( case).” But the case goes on.

Since the IHF is broke, Gill is meeting all the expenses, including the office premises in the Patel Nagar area, of running a defunct IHF. “ We don’t have money. It’s Mr Gill who pays the Rs 25,000 rent for the office space and the salaries of the staff that comes to around Rs 35,000 – a monthly expenditure of around Rs 60,000. He has been meeting these expenses since April 2008,” the source disclosed.

Asked if the team sponsorship money from Sahara India, which had signed a long- term deal with the IHF in 2003, still comes in, the source said that only some money due for a long time came last year, but now they are totally dependent on Gill.

“ Sahara stopped giving the sponsorship money after the IHF was dissolved, though the contract was till 2011. Last year, they paid only a few lakh rupees, which were actually long- standing dues, but that was it. Now, we have absolutely no money at all,” he said.

As per the team sponsorship contract, Sahara used to pay the IHF Rs 50 lakh every quarter. The Lucknow- based conglomerate has now signed a fresh deal with Hockey India. While the staff spends a few hours daily at the “ IHF office”, Gill, a former director general of the Punjab police and now 73, doesn’t visit the office. “ There’s no elevator in our building and he can’t climb stairs,” said the source.