A fresh controversy erupted in Indian hockey on Monday with a television news channel claiming to have done a sting operation in which Indian Hockey Federation secretary-general K Jothikumaran was purportedly shown receiving cash for getting a player included in the senior team.
While Jothikumaran himself was not available for comment despite repeated attempts to reach him, IHF president K P S Gill reacted sharply, saying it is a "reprehensible act" and no words are enough to condemn that.
Headlines Today said in a statement that its Special Investigation Team found that the selection process in hockey was not "always fair, the current administration is highly corrupt and that IHF president Gill is oblivious of the corrupt practices of his colleagues."
The channel claimed that after receiving cash payment of Rs two lakh and taking a promise of another Rs three lakh to be given to his man in Delhi, Jothikumaran assured the channel's team of getting a player picked for the senior hockey team for the Azlan Shah hockey tournament next month.
It claimed that the bribe money was given to him in a five-star hotel in Delhi in two instalments on April 10 and 11.
While Jothikumaran refused to take phone calls made to him, Gill told PTI that his secretary-general's act was "extremely disgraceful" and the IHF will take action against him.